Domaine Stephan, Cote Rotie, Rhone, Frankrig
Beskrivelse:
Jean-Michel Stephan er en forholdsvis ny stjerneproducent i Côte Rôtie. Jean-Michel har kun produceret siden 1991 på kun 4 ha., men har opnået stor anerkendelse på kort tid, vinene er yderst velanmeldte hos bl.a. Robert Parker og Wine Spectator. Wine Spectator ratede Stephans vine blandt de allerbedste i 2004 årgangen. 94 point til Vieille Vigne en Coteaux.
Cuvéerne vinificeres forskelligt: Cote Rotié og Tupin gennemgår Maceration Carbonique, det gør Vielle Vigne ikke, den fodtrampes og vinificeres på traditionel vis. Tupin er en moderne åben og flæsket "pleaser" Rotié med afrundede tanniner. VV er en intellektuel Rotié der behøver tid for at vise sin fornemme struktur, elegance, renhed og mineralitet. Vinstokkene er 60-120 år.
WineSpectator Insider
"This has a dark, brooding edge to it now, with aged tobacco,
braised currant and dark fig notes laced with bittersweet cocoa
and roasted earth. Muscular and brawny on the finish, with a tar
and charcoal streak that will need cellaring to tame fully. Best
from 2011 through 2019.—J.M."
94 Point
Fra producenten:
Grape variety: Syrah (plantée en 1988), Serine (plantée 1989), Vieux Viognier à 20% (plantés en 1902)
The Viognier been so old, it only represents 10% of the final blend due to very small yields.
Terroir: granit with steep slopes
Viticulture: No synthetic product nor chemical is used Ploughing and work of the ground by winch
Mowing of the grass Pruning in Guyot for the Syrah and Serine and "Gobelet" for the Viognier.
Vinification: Carbonic maceration with the cap held down under the juice during the first few days followed
by a classical fermentation with pumping up and punching down of the cap by hand -
Stainless steel vat - T° at 25°C during 20 to 25 days
Indigenous yeast - no exogenous products like SO2, enzymes, chaptalisation, etc
"Méchage" of the barrels before fermentation
100% aging in oak during 8 months
