Yves Cuilleron : Lieu-dit "La Viallière" 2023

Characteristics and tasting notes of the Lieu-dit "La Viallière" 2023 Yves Cuilleron

Tasting

Colour
The colour reveals a beautiful red hue.

Nose
The aromatic bouquet proves complex, dominated by scents of red and black fruits such as blackberry, cherry and blackcurrant. Delicate floral touches of violet intertwine with subtle spicy notes of pepper and light smoky nuances.

Palate
The attack is ample and fleshy, offering a generous fruity expression. The mid-palate, deep and juicy, rests on fine, round tannins. The oak aging blends harmoniously without masking the fruit. The finish, with lovely persistence, extends the black fruit aromas underscored by a mineral backbone and well-judged acidity.

Food and wine pairing

This cuvée pairs wonderfully with red meats, game or elaborate sauced dishes. The estate suggests a jugged hare flavoured with black truffle, but this wine will also go just as well with a rib of beef, roast lamb, venison medallions or full-flavoured aged cheeses such as Comté.

Service and storage

The Lieu-dit "La Viallière" 2023 requires cellar aging of at least four years. It can then be enjoyed until around 2037, or even beyond for lovers of older vintages.

Other characteristics

The alcohol content of this vintage stands between 13 and 13.5% vol.

A structured Côte-Rôtie wine true to its terroir of origin

The estate

Founded in 1920, the family estate has established itself as a benchmark of the Rhône Valley. Since 1987, Yves Cuilleron has been at the helm of the estate. Under his leadership, the vineyard has grown from 3.5 to around 75 hectares. A staunch advocate of tailored viticulture, he favours manual work and rejects standardisation. His meticulous approach and commitment to showcasing the Rhône terroirs shape the identity of his wines, combining tradition and precision to reveal the very best of each plot.

The vineyard

This wine comes from the Côte-Rôtie appellation, more precisely from the lieu-dit "La Viallière" located in the commune of Vérenay. The vines, planted at high density on steep, south-facing slopes, benefit from optimal sunlight exposure. The soils, rich in mica-schist, give the plant low vigour, thereby encouraging deep rooting and excellent grape concentration. Due to the steep gradient, all vineyard work is carried out by hand.

The vintage

The year 2023 was marked by warm weather conditions. The growing cycle benefited from adequate moisture during fruit set and the early stages of development. Late summer and autumn proved warm and dry, allowing the berries to reach optimal phenolic ripeness.

Winemaking and aging

For the Lieu-dit "La Viallière" 2023, the grapes are hand-harvested with rigorous sorting. Winemaking begins with partial destemming, followed by fermentation in open vats using indigenous yeasts. Maceration lasts around three weeks, punctuated by punching down and pumping over for controlled extraction. Malolactic fermentation takes place in barrels. Finally, the wine undergoes 18 months of aging in oak barrels, combining new and used wood.

Grape variety

100% Syrah.