2010 Côte Rôtie, Réserve du Domaine, Michel & Stéphane Ogier
About Producer
The Ogiers have been rooted for seven generations in Ampuis, Côte Rôtie, but Michel Ogier, who was selling his entire crop to Chapoutier and Guigal, didn’t start making wines before 1982. By 1987, all wines were made and bottled by the domaine. After completing his 5-year oenology studies in Beaune and having worked two vintages in South Africa, Stéphane joined the family estate in 1997 before taking over the reins in 2003. Stéphane has brought a Burgundian approach to the region by launching single-parcel cuvées to achieve the best expression of each terroir. The domaine holdings have expanded to 27ha with vineyards in some of the most famous terroirs of Côte Rôtie and a new winery was built in 2014 to allow vinification by parcel. Under Stéphane’s aegis, this domaine has gone from strength to strength to become a reference point for the appellation with wines known for their elegance and finesse.
Varietals
Syrah. 70% from Côte Brune and 30% from Côte Blonde. Aged 18 months in oak barrels, 30% new.
About Appellation
Vines were first planted in the Côte Rôtie area by the Romans. The vineyard is composed of two sections separated by Ruisseau du Reynard, the small stream that runs through the steep hills to meet River Rhône at Ampuis. Côte Brune, upstream of the Reynard, is exclusively planted with syrah, while there are some viognier plantings, as supporting role to syrah, in Côte Blonde in downstream.
Tasting Notes
Enticing nose of ripe black fruits, liquorice, smoke, wild herbs and forest floor, rich mouthfeel with velvety texture, ample structure and remarkable fruit purity, multilayered flavours of blackberry, blackcurrant, cherry, smoked meat, black olive and star anise interlaced with mouth-coating mineral undertones, well-embedded acidity and powdery tannins leading onto a long, persistent finish. Considered as the ‘generic’ côte rôtie of the domaine, this is an elegant wine that brims with delightful vigour, concentration and freshness, while exuding composed poise and assertive personality. Though somewhat lacking the depth and complexity of its single-vineyard stablemates, it glides along with endearing generosity and effortless harmony throughout the palate. More often than not, I find myself succumbing to the beguiling charm of its astonishing duality of power and finesse. (01/2024)