Description
Domaine René Rostaing was founded in 1971, when René, then working as a notary, began tending tiny inherited parcels in Côte-Rôtie at a time when the appellation was still relatively under the radar. Over the following decades he gradually expanded the estate through family inheritance from two legendary growers: his father-in-law, Albert Dervieux, and his uncle, the iconic Marius Gentaz, bringing into the domaine some of the most prized old vines in lieux-dits such as Côte Blonde, La Landonne, and other top slopes. René built a reputation as a staunch classicist, championing Côte-Rôtie that expresses its steep schist terraces through aromatic lift, whole-cluster finesse, and judicious oak rather than power for its own sake. In 2015, he passed the reins to his son, Pierre, who now farms roughly 7–8 hectares in Côte-Rôtie plus small holdings in Condrieu and the Languedoc, maintaining the domaine’s traditional, terroir-driven style while fine-tuning details in the cellar and vineyard. Ampodium is the estate’s flagship blend, drawing across multiple lieux-dits to offer a benchmark expression of the appellation in any given year.
The 2022 René Rostaing AMPODIUM Côte-Rôtie shows classic northern Rhône Syrah purity, with a lifted, savory aromatics profile and finely etched structure. Dark raspberry, black cherry, and wild blackberry are layered with smoked bacon, olive tapenade, cracked black pepper, and a whisper of dried violets. On the palate it is medium- to full-bodied yet finely honed, with lithe tannins, bright but integrated acidity, and a cool graphite and herbal nuance that keeps the wine impeccably fresh. The mid-palate carries a mix of red and black fruits, cured meat, and subtle spice, tapering into a long, saline finish that reflects its Côte-Rôtie hillside origins. This vintage will benefit from a short decant in youth and should evolve beautifully over the next decade, especially alongside dishes like roasted lamb, duck with black olive, or mushroom and lentil braise.
