Lot presentation

Saint-Joseph Ro-Rée Louis Cheze (Domaine) 2020

The wine

Produced since 1990, this cuvée is a blend of Marsanne and Roussanne grapes from 15 to 40 year-old vines, whose yields are limited to 30 hl/ha. The Roussanne grapes are grown on hillsides, and the Marsanne in granite soils. They are grown sustainably and harvested by hand. The grapes are sorted in two passes: a first time on the vine, and a second upon arrival at the winery. The winemaking process involves pressing, settling, alcoholic and malolactic fermentation in barrique barrels with lees stirring. Maturation takes place over 8-10 months in new barrels and in barrels used 2-3 times before. The wine is then bottled without filtration. This white Saint-Joseph has a pretty straw-yellow colour, a floral, honeyed nose and a very creamy, full-bodied palate. As it ages, it delivers tertiary notes of toast.

About the Producer Louis Cheze

Louis Chèze started his venture in 1978 with one hectare of vines in the Saint-Joseph appellation, on a hillside on the right bank of the Rhône in the commune of Limony. Since then, the domain has grown to 30 hectares, and owns vineyards in Saint-Joseph, Condrieu and more recently, on the other side of the Rhône on the hillsides of Seyssuel, opposite the Côte-Rôtie. Like François Villard, Yves Cuilleron and Pierre Galliard, Louis Chèze now cultivates vines on the remains of the ancient Roman vineyards there. The domain has a modern winery so the vinification process is as fine-tuned as it can be. Every cuvée is the outcome of a meticulous single parcel selection that allows the terroir and grapes to express themselves fully. As the wines are produced on a granite terrain they are very fresh, stylish and full of character. This Rhône Valley domain is growing in reputation.

Detailed characteristics