Domaine Stéphane Ogier - La Rosine 2023
On the slopes of Tupin-et-Semons, immediately south of Côte-Rôtie, La Rosine holds a historic place in the Ogier family’s journey. It is notably thanks to this vineyard that Michel Ogier began developing bottling at the estate, paving the way for the work continued by his son Stéphane since 1997. Today recognized for its great single-vineyard cuvées of Côte-Rôtie, Stéphane maintains a special attachment to La Rosine, whose vines benefit from the same cultural requirements as his most prestigious crus. The vineyard extends over about six hectares of granite slopes, mainly south-facing, continuing the reliefs overlooking Ampuis. This geographical situation explains the aromatic kinship with certain Syrahs from Côte-Rôtie, even though La Rosine has a distinct identity. The granite gives it an elegant profile, in which the intensity of the fruit is accompanied by freshness and a spicy expression characteristic of northern Rhône.
La Rosine 2023 is made exclusively from Syrah from vines aged twenty to thirty years, planted at a high density on these steep slopes. Manual work plays an essential role in vineyard management, from parcel maintenance to harvest. The grapes undergo a first selection directly in the vineyard, then a second sorting upon arrival at the winery. After destemming, a cold pre-fermentation maceration precedes fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks, conducted with indigenous yeasts. This method preserves the aromatic precision of the grape variety while seeking a gradual extraction of color and tannins. The wine then benefits from twelve months of aging in barrels previously used for the estate’s great Côte-Rôtie wines, without the use of new wood. The 2023 vintage here produces a Syrah whose fruit ripeness is accompanied by appreciable freshness, with an expression favoring finesse rather than excessive concentration.
The deep ruby robe, animated with violet reflections, precedes an expressive bouquet of black cherry, blackcurrant, and fresh blackberry, accompanied by notes of violet and pepper. Upon aeration, nuances of licorice, black olive, and rubbed stone gradually enrich this aromatic palette without masking the brightness of the fruit. On the palate, the attack is supple and juicy, quickly followed by delicately structured matter and fine tannins. The natural freshness of Syrah grown on granite brings energy to the whole, while discreet aging contributes to the roundness of the texture. The finish retains a spicy and slightly smoky dimension, with persistence exceeding the expectations usually associated with a wine of this category. Accessible from today, La Rosine 2023 also has enough structure to evolve favorably over several years, gradually developing more complex nuances. A duck breast, grilled rib of beef, roasted pigeon, or sautéed wild mushrooms will particularly accompany its fruity and peppery character.
Grape variety: 100% Syrah
