2022 Patrick & Christophe Bonnefond, Cote Rotie, Cote Rozier

Patrick and Christophe Bonnefond prioritize site-specificity through precise vineyard stewardship and a winemaking regimen that includes 30% whole-cluster inclusion followed by 20 months of aging in 400-liter French oak. This parcel-level expression originates from a diminutive 0.5-hectare plot of iron-rich brown schist and mica-schist on the steep, south-east-facing slopes of the northern Côte Brune. In the 2022 vintage, the extreme heat and drought conditions yielded significant mid-palate density and physiological ripeness, which the brothers navigated to maintain a clear line of structural acidity. The resulting Syrah is defined by its architectural depth, featuring fine-grained, coated tannins and an iron-inflected mineral core that ensures substantial ageability. This structural harmony between the vintage’s concentrated weight and the site’s natural verticality produces a wine of serious, soil-driven intent.