AOC Côtes du Rhône Villages Rousset-les-Vignes
From the light soils of this vineyard comes a range of fruity, supple wines with smooth tannins.
Steep roads and stunning views describe the road to Rousset-les-Vignes, a route that the ancient General Hannibal Barca took as he approached the Alps on his way from Spain to Italy. Perched on the Lance mountain massif, the village is one of the northernmost appellations in the southern Rhône Valley, and with only 60 of its 300 hectares under production, it is also one of the smallest.
A cadastral map from the 15th century indicates several soils suitable for winegrowing, an early sign of the terroir’s potential. Since then, geologists have been able to give us a more scientific explanation.
The zaffre hills where the vines grow consist of sand and fossilised seashells deposited by the sea around eighteen million years ago. From these light soils comes a range of fruity, supple wines with smooth tannins. As one climbs the slope, the wines become fuller-bodied and more structured.
They Planting the Côtes du Rhône’s top varietals: Grenache noir, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Cinsault. The appellation rosés, meanwhile, show delightful flavours of red berry fruit.
Informations
Key figures
Production surface area in 2023: 21 HA
Total production in 2023: 642 HL
Average annual yeld: 31 HL/HA
Year of recognition within the AOC Côtes du Rhône Villages: 1969
Commune : Rousset-les-Vignes
Grape varieties
Main grape varieties
- Bourboulenc,
- Clairette,
- Grenache blanc,
- Grenache noir,
- Marsanne,
- Mourvèdre,
- Roussanne,
- Syrah,
- Viognier
Secondary grape varieties
- Bourboulenc,
- Brun argenté (locally known as Camarèse or Vaccarèse),
- Carignan,
- Carignan blanc,
- Cinsault,
- Clairette,
- Clairette rose,
- Counoise,
- Floréal,
- Grenache blanc,
- Grenache gris,
- Marsanne,
- Muscardin,
- Piquepoul blanc,
- Piquepoul noir,
- Rolle (or Vermentino),
- Roussanne,
- Terret noir,
- Ugni blanc,
- Vidoc,
- Viognier
To know
History
Greek pitchers (oenochoe) and pseudo-Ionian ceramic wine jars have been found in the area, suggesting that that wine was already enjoyed here between the mid-6th and 4th centuries BC.
Interestingly, the artefacts already show a strong Gaulish influence, for instance in the shape of their drinking vessels.
In the 11th century, Benedictine monks at Saint-Pantaléon-les-Vignes built a great priory backingonto the mountain of La Lance, and planted
their vines in its sandstone slopes. A cadastral map from the 15th century shows several different soil types in the area, all suited to vinegrowing.
This level of detail was fairly unusual at the time, demonstrating that even then, the Rousset-les-Vignes winemakers took an interest in quality.
Rousset-les-Vignes became a Côtes du Rhône Villages with geographical name in 1969.
Climate
Mediterranean type climate, protected from the Mistral wind by the neighbouring mountains.
Soils
Steep hillside slopes of sandstone and pebbles.
Geography
The vineyards all lie in the commune of Rousset-les-Vignes in the Drôme département.
Varieties and flavours
The appellation red wines must contain mainly Grenache noir, supplemented by Syrah and/or Mourvèdre. They are dense and well-coloured, with distinctive stone fruit flavours mellowing into notes of leather and truffle as they age. Rosés must also comprise Grenache noir, with Syrah and/or Mourvèdre. They will keep for between two and four years depending on the method used to make them - saignée or pressing. For whites, Grenache blanc, Marsanne, Roussanne and Viognier are the main varieties used in the blends.
Associated appellations
