Domaine de Bonserine - Côte Rôtie La Sarrasine 2023

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

This small estate produces only four wines—three from Côte Rôtie and one from Condrieu—from its 12 hectares of owned vineyards, 11 of which are in Côte Rôtie, spread across a large number of plots. Owned by the Guigal family since 2006, the estate is managed by an independent team. The wines tasted are consistently flawless, but they lack just a touch of magic to truly serve as great ambassadors for the Côte.

Guide Hachette des vins

About the wine:

A classic label from the estate, this Sarrasine blends juices from various plots and, like the estate’s other cuvées, undergoes an ambitious aging process—in this case, 24 months in demi-muids, half of which are new. The result is a remarkably harmonious wine that elegantly expresses notes of crushed raspberry, noble herbal aromas, and black pepper. On the palate, it reveals a full-bodied, juicy texture supported by dense, velvety tannins, with the added bonus of a beautiful, lingering finish enlivened by subtle bitter notes—a testament to its solid pedigree and excellent aging potential.

About the estate:

By acquiring this estate in 2006—which was founded in 1961 and expanded and modernized in the 1990s—Marcel Guigal added a jewel to his already richly adorned crown: a 12-hectare vineyard planted primarily with “Serine,” an old variety of Syrah, which produces Côte-Rôtie and Condrieu.

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the estate:

Acquired by the Guigal family in 2006, the Bonserine estate has retained complete autonomy. At the helm, Ludovic Richard can draw on a fine portfolio of vineyards in Côte-Rôtie and Condrieu. The entire vineyard is plowed, and the use of native yeasts is standard practice. The red wines are currently quite bold, but they will mellow with time.

Jancis Robinson

About the wine:

A dark, flavorful nose. Juicy and supple on the palate, yet with a firm, ripe tannic structure in the background. A lively, lingering finish, with the freshness characteristic of the vintage.

Jeb Dunnuck

About the wine:

The 2023 Côte Rôtie La Sarrasine features a deep purple color and impressive aromas of red and blue berries, smoked meats, flowers, and hints of burnt earth. It is beautifully balanced, medium-bodied to full-bodied, with supple yet powerful tannins and a lovely finish. This harmonious and complex Côte Rôtie will provide great enjoyment right now, but can be cellared for 10 to 15 years. Blended from 97% Syrah and 3% Viognier, it spent 24 months in demi-muids that had previously held two different wines.