Domaine Clusel Roch - Côte Rotie - Les Schistes 2018
Maison Clusel-Roch is located in Ampuis, in the Rhône Valley. The estate was created in the 1950s by René and Joséphine Clusel, who, like many farmers in Ampuis, cultivated vegetables, fruit trees and vines. Their son Gilbert joined the family estate and restored old abandoned vines. When René Clusel retired, the estate had 3.5 hectares of vines. It was at this time that fruit and vegetable production was abandoned. The 1990s saw a lot of change and then in the 2000s, the family obtained certification in organic farming. Today, and since 2009, Guillaume Clusel (Gilbert and Brigitte's son) manages the estate. It was he who introduced the third appellation of Lyonnais, the AOC des Coteaux du Lyonnais. He cultivates in three appellations: Côte-Rôtie, Condrieu and Coteaux du Lyonnais.
The Côte-Rôtie Les Schistes is a blend of Syrah (95%) with a small proportion of Viognier. The average age of the vines is 10 to 60 years. The harvest is done by hand with careful sorting carried out in the vineyard by the grape pickers. Arrived at the cellar, the grapes are vatted by gravity; they are partially destemmed. Fermentation is done with indigenous yeasts. During the vinification, punching down and pumping over follow one another, then the wine is racked after 3 to 4 weeks following tasting. Aging lasts 2 years in French fine-grained 228-litres oak barrels which have been dried for 4 years and 15% of which is new.
Grape varieties: 95% Syrah, 5% Viognier