2007 La Rosine Syrah, Vin de Pays, Domaine Michel et Stéphane Ogier
Red | Drink now | Domaine Stephane Ogier | Code: 944354 | 2007 | France > Vin de Pays > VdP des Comtes Rhodaniens | Syrah/Shiraz | Full Bodied, Dry | 12.5 % alcohol
The Producer
Michel Ogier is a relative newcomer to the top ranks of the wine-making world: up until 1980 he sold his entire crop, on the vine, to Messrs Chapoutier and Guigal. Since then, he has invested an enormous amount of time and capital in his well-situated 2½ hectare vineyard and now, handed over to his ambitious and likeable son, Stèphane.
The wines themselves are not the huge, structured beasts typical of some other Côte Rôtie producers. They tend more towards a silky elegance with soft, subtle tannins. However, they retain that incredible ability to age that is synonymous with the best Côte Rôtie.
The Grape
A noble black grape variety grown particularly in the Northern Rhône where it produces the great red wines of Hermitage, Cote Rôtie and Cornas, and in Australia where it produces wines of startling depth and intensity. Reasonably low yields are a crucial factor for quality as is picking at optimum ripeness. Its heartland, Hermitage and Côte Rôtie, consists of 270 hectares of steeply terraced vineyards producing wines that brim with pepper, spices, tar and black treacle when young. After 5-10 years they become smooth and velvety with pronounced fruit characteristics of damsons, raspberries, blackcurrants and loganberries.
It is now grown extensively in the Southern Rhône where it is blended with Grenache and Mourvèdre to produce the great red wines of Châteauneuf du Pape and Gigondas amongst others. Its spiritual home in Australia is the Barossa Valley, where there are plantings dating as far back as 1860. Australian Shiraz tends to be sweeter than its Northern Rhône counterpart and the best examples are redolent of new leather, dark chocolate, liquorice, and prunes and display a blackcurrant lusciousness.
South African producers such as Eben Sadie are now producing world- class Shiraz wines that represent astonishing value for money.
The Region
Vin de Pays des Comtés Rhodaniens is a Vin de Pays French wine appellation that encompasses vineyard area in the Rhône-Alpes region and wines from mainly Viognier, Syrah and Grenache grapes but also from Pinot Noir and Gamay as the appellations spans further to include portions of Beaujolais, Savoie and Jura.
Within the broad regional Vin de Pays appellation of Comtés Rhodaniens there are further wine classifications for specified areas including :
- Vin de Pays du Comté de Grignan
- Vin de Pays des Coteaux de l’Ardèche
- Vin de Pays des Coteaux de Baronnies
- Vin de Pays des Coteaux de Montélimar
- Vin de Pays des Gaules
Best Value - Northern Rhône
Stephane Ogier’s La Rosine has something of a track record for keeping well in good years, like 1999, 2001 & 2005 – and 2007 looks set to match and even surpass these. This has very pure fruit initially becoming more lush but with a firm finish, but there’s nothing at all stretched about the wine. This represents excellent value and should be enjoyed between 2010 and 2013.
(Tom Cave, BBR Cellar Plan Manager) Best Value - Northern Rhône
Stéphane’s La Rosine Syrah has a fabulously expressive nose of red cherries and white pepper. Soft and supple with lovely juicy red fruit, this surely has to be one of the best pound-for-pound buys of the vintage.
(Simon Staples, BBR Sales & Marketing Director) Stéphane’s La Rosine Syrah is better than many Côte- Rôties. The wine is aged over eight months in barrique, a somewhat unusual experience for a Vin de Pays. This is the essence of Syrah, with a savoury nose of violets and smoky bacon preceeding a harmonious palate and a twist of pepper on the finish.
(Simon Field MW, Berrys’ Rhône Buyer)