Maison Les Alexandrins Cote-Rotie

Maison Les Alexandrins is the newly renamed collaboration between Nicolas Jaboulet, formerly of the eponymous winery in Tain, winemaker Guillaume Sorrel and viticulturalist Alexandre Caso. Each person brings their expertise to this micro-negociant, an extension of Domaine Les Alexandrins, established in 2015. The aim of Maison Les Alexandrins remains the same: to buy parcels of fruit from some of the top growers in each appellation in the Northern Rhone. Following the construction of a new winery in Tain-l'Hermitage in 2019, Maison and Domaine Les Alexandrins is now a permanent fixture in the Northern Rhone.

Vineyards

The appellation of Cote Rotie is located on the hills of the right bank of the Rhone river. The vineyards are located at an altitude ranging between 180 and 325 metres above sea level, with the gradient measuring 60%. The main soil is granite covered in places by schist but also sand and calcareous soils. The wine is made from grapes primarily sourced from the southern part of the appellation; Cote Blonde and Chateau de Tupin.

Vintage

After a mild winter and spring, the perfect conditions were halted by a hailstorm on 15th June which destroyed a large part of the Crozes-Hermitage vines. A summer heatwave followed, one of the hottest of the decade, which caused some of the berries to burn. Thankfully, careful vineyard management saved part of the vineyard and the remaining crop remained in excellent health. Harvest was without complication and, although yields were lower than average, the vintage promises to be magnificent year.

Vinification

98% Syrah 2% Viognier

The grapes went through a period of cold maceration to extract the delicate aromatics from the fruit. Co-fermentation of the Syrah and Viognier grapes lasted for about 20 days with pumping-over for the first few days followed by punching-down. The wine was aged in one year old oak barrels for 15 months.

Tasting Notes

This Cote-Rotie reveals a complex and powerful nose with notes of violets, black fruit, spices and liquorice. Concentrated flavours match the nose, with velvety tannins and gentle spice lingering on the long finish.