WineRegionsOld WorldFranceRhoneNorth
Five miles south of Vienne, a Roman city dating from the time of Augustusand Livy, on the right bank of the Rhone are the two slopes of Cote Rotie.They shared between the villages of Ampuis and Tupin Semons. Syrah or Serineare the vines used. Their origin is uncertain, maybe the Cyslades togetherwith Viognier. They are pruned in an unusual manner three plants togetheron three poles, to form a pyramid, forming the unique silhouette of theCote Rotie. A wine born of such vines may be considered as a wine for layingdown improving from year to year. The "dark slope" and the "fairslope" names are due to the legend of noble Maugiron who willed hislands to be shared between his two daughters. The one dark, the other fair.The qualities of the harvests from these two slopes complement each other,and they are generally to be found blended together in the same cellar.
Name means "roasted hill" 2 miles long
Northern most appellation
Very steep hillside vineyards perfectly aligned for sun exposure
Soil varies with two sub districts
Cote Brune "dark slope"- Dark brown soil rich in clay containinglarge amounts of iron oxide -distinct mineral flavor characteristics. Verylong-lived.
Cote Blonde "blonde slope" - Lighter chalky soils - flavor characteristic- fruitier, but fade faster than Brune.
Folklore - The difference is that Maugiron an early lord of Ampuis, presentedthe vineyards to his two daughters, one blond and the other brunette. Theslopes assumed their individual characteristics and have maintained themever since.
Syrah is the main grape but very rarely Viognier can be added for finesse.