Cote-Rotie Terres Sombres

In the glass

Aroma: dark cherry, violet, smoked herbs, pepper, iron mineral

Palate: concentrated dark fruit, mineral grip, firm tannins, licorice, long finish

Cuilleron's flagship Cote-Rotie, expressing the dark, smoky mineral character of the Cote Brune parcels. Terre Sombre means dark earth, reflecting the iron-rich schist soils.

What it pairs with

• Slow-roasted lamb shoulder
  The wine's concentration and mineral character match slow-cooked lamb.
• Duck confit with black olives
  Black olive notes in the wine echo the preparation while dark fruit matches duck.
• Venison ragout with herbes de Provence
  Game and herbs echo the wine's dark mineral and herbal character.

How to serve Cote-Rotie Terres Sombres

Allow 95 minutes from open to pour.

1. Open and decant. Open 90 minutes before serving and pour into a decanter to aerate.
2. Serve at 16-18°C. Cellar temperature (16-18°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
3. Glassware. Use a large Bordeaux-style glass: the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
4. Pair with. Slow-roasted lamb shoulder, Duck confit with black olives, Venison ragout with herbes de Provence. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.

History

Terres Sombres is Cuilleron's Cote-Rotie from the Cote Brune sector, expressing the dark, iron-mineral character of the darker schist soils that distinguish the Brune from the lighter Blonde slope.

1. 1995: First vintage of Terres Sombres as Cuilleron's flagship Cote-Rotie

Facts

Producer

Yves Cuilleron · visiting guide

Grapes

Syrah (96%), Viognier (4%)

Classification

Cote-Rotie AOC

Oak

18 months in new and used French oak barriques

ABV

13.5%

Price

EUR 45-70 at retail

Drinking window

6-18 from vintage

First vintage

1995

Organic

ECOCERT

Frequently asked about Cote-Rotie Terres Sombres

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