In the glass
Aroma: blackberry preserve, smoked dark spice, cedar, black olive, iron mineral
Palate: intensely concentrated dark fruit, cedar and spice, mineral iron, dense powerful tannins, very long finish
Ogier's ultra-premium single-vine-parcel Cote-Rotie from the Lancement site, aged in 100% new oak. Among the most expressive and sought-after modern Cote-Rotie wines.
What it pairs with
-
Beef Wellington with black truffle
The wine's new oak, dark fruit, and cedar match the luxury combination of beef and truffle in pastry. -
Grilled Wagyu ribeye
The wine's power and concentration needs intensely marbled beef of equal richness. -
Pigeon royale with foie gras jus
Game bird and foie gras jus meet the wine's power and complexity head-on.
How to serve Cote-Rotie Belle Helene
Allow 95 minutes from open to pour.
- Open and decant. Open 90 minutes before serving and pour into a decanter to aerate.
- Serve at 16-18°C. Cellar temperature (16-18°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
- Glassware. Use a large Bordeaux-style glass: the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
- Pair with. Beef Wellington with black truffle, Grilled Wagyu ribeye, Pigeon royale with foie gras jus. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.
History
Belle Helene was introduced in 1997 as Stephane Ogier's top single-vineyard Cote-Rotie. Named after a specific parcel on the Cote Brune, it uses 100% new oak and represents his most ambitious expression of the appellation.
- 1997 — First vintage of Belle Helene as Ogier's prestige single-vineyard cuvee
Facts
- Producer
- Domaine Stephane Ogier
- Grapes
- Syrah (100%)
- Classification
- Cote-Rotie AOC
- Oak
- 24 months in new French oak barriques (100% new oak)
- ABV
- 13.5%
- Price
- EUR 200-350 at retail
- Drinking window
- 10-25 from vintage
- First vintage
- 1997
- Organic
- ECOCERT
Frequently asked about Cote-Rotie Belle Helene
What does Cote-Rotie Belle Helene taste like?
On the nose, blackberry preserve, smoked dark spice, cedar, black olive, iron mineral. On the palate, intensely concentrated dark fruit, cedar and spice, mineral iron, dense powerful tannins, very long finish. Structurally full-bodied, firm tannins, high acidity with a very long, dark spice and mineral finish. Ogier's ultra-premium single-vine-parcel Cote-Rotie from the Lancement site, aged in 100% new oak. Among the most expressive and sought-after modern Cote-Rotie wines.
When should I drink Cote-Rotie Belle Helene?
Drink 10-25 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.
What food pairs with Cote-Rotie Belle Helene?
Beef Wellington with black truffle is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Grilled Wagyu ribeye and Pigeon royale with foie gras jus. The wine's new oak, dark fruit, and cedar match the luxury combination of beef and truffle in pastry.
What grapes are in Cote-Rotie Belle Helene?
The blend is Syrah (100%). The wine is classified as Cote-Rotie AOC.