Bonserine

Wines from domaine de Bonserine: buy at the best price

The Domaine de Bonserine is one of the most important and respected estates in the Côte-Rôtie appellation. Founded in 1961 and modernized in the 1990s under the impetus of Ludovic Richard, this domaine de 12 hectares is the second largest in the Côte-Rôtie appellation in terms of surface area, and the first in terms of owner-grower. Its defining characteristic is that it is planted predominantly with "serine", an ancient and local variety of Syrah, with small berries highly concentrated in aromas, which gives its wines a remarkable depth and purity of fruit. In 2006, Maison Guigal, a world icon of Rhône wines, acquired the estate while preserving its full operational and team autonomy. Ludovic Richard continues to manage it, with Stéphane Carrel as cellar master, with the same commitment to quality. Just four cuvées — three Côte-Rôtie and one Condrieu, aged 24 to 36 months in demi-muids — define an estate of great precision. Complemented by the négociant structure Septentria (Saint-Joseph, Crozes-Hermitage, Côtes du Rhône blanc), the estate covers a complete range of the great appellations of the northern Rhône.

Read more
See more
Filters

Price

€80.00 - €100.00

Appellation

Color

Vintage

Volume

Parker WA rating

86 - 95

Burghound rating

No choice available on this group

Revue du Vin de France rating

No choice available on this group

Bettane & Desseauve rating

16 - 17

Prices drop

No choice available on this group

Download this list
There is 1 product.
Download this list
  • Name, A to Z
  • Name, Z to A
  • Price, low to high
  • Price, high to low
  • By quantity
  • Latest Arrivals
Bonserine Côte Rôtie La Garde 2019
Last one !
1 in stock
109215
Red
75cl
Add to cart
Rhône | Côte Rôtie

Bonserine Côte Rôtie La Garde 2018

€90.00 inc-VAT per bottle
€75.00 ex-VAT

History of the Domaine de Bonserine

The Domaine de Bonserine was founded in 1961, at a pivotal moment for the Côte-Rôtie appellation, which was then in full recession following decades of disaffection. Its name is taken directly from the lieu-dit Bonserine, located on the steep hillsides overlooking the right bank of the Rhône between Ampuis and Vienne. In the 1980s, the appellation experienced a spectacular revival, driven notably by Marcel Guigal and his legendary cuvées. It was in this context that Ludovic Richard took over the direction of the domaine and embarked in the 1990s on an ambitious modernization of the cellar facilities, enabling a significant rise in quality. It was during this period that the current emblematic cuvées were conceived, notably La Sarrasine (first vintage 1999) and La Garde.

In 2006, Marcel Guigal, won over by the quality of the vineyard and the personality of Ludovic Richard, acquired the Domaine de Bonserine. The transaction was carried out in a spirit of absolute respect for the estate's identity: Ludovic Richard and his team retained their full autonomy, their cellar, their vineyard and their winemaking methods. Stéphane Carrel holds the position of cellar master with a widely recognized level of exacting precision. The domaine produces its own wines under its own label, independently of Guigal's production. In parallel, Bonserine developed the négociant structure Septentria to offer wines from other great appellations of the northern Rhône (Saint-Joseph, Crozes-Hermitage, Côtes du Rhône) in the same quality-driven philosophy.

Terroirs and Vines of the Domaine de Bonserine

The vineyard of the Domaine de Bonserine spans 12 hectares in total, of which 11 hectares fall within the Côte-Rôtie appellation and 1 hectare in Condrieu. In Côte-Rôtie, the plots are spread across a large number of named sites (lieux-dits) on the two historic slopes of the appellation, in Ampuis and on the neighboring communes. La Sarrasine, the flagship cuvée, is sourced from 10 distinct plots spread across the entire Côte-Rôtie vineyard. La Viallière is sourced from plots on the Côte Blonde. La Garde, the prestige grande cuvée, comes from just 0.08 hectares of 60- to 80-year-old vines on the Côte Brune, with a delicate touch of fruit from the Côte Blonde.

The great singularity of the vineyard lies in the age and nature of the vines: the estate is planted predominantly with "serine", an ancient and local variety of Syrah, whose oldest plants are 60 to 80 years old. This "serine" produces small berries of very high aromatic concentration, with remarkable density and aromatic complexity. All the vines are cultivated on terraces, fully worked and ploughed, with manual harvests carried out by a team of 40 passionate winegrowers, carefully sorted before vatting. The vineyard is oriented towards organic viticulture with indigenous yeasts used as a matter of course.

Winemaking at the Domaine de Bonserine

Winemaking at the Domaine de Bonserine is precise and classical, faithful to the tradition of the northern Rhône. The harvests are manual, with rigorous sorting upon reception. For the Côte-Rôtie wines, the grapes are 100% destemmed (except La Garde at 80%). Fermentations are started with indigenous yeasts in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats, with pump-overs during approximately 3 weeks of maceration. Malolactic fermentation takes place under wood. Aging is one of the estate's defining characteristics: 24 months in demi-muids for La Sarrasine (60% new, 20% one-wine, 20% two-wine), and up to 36 months in small new French oak barrels for La Garde, the most ambitious cuvée. For the Condrieu, vinification takes place in vats with aging on the lees.

The style of Bonserine's wines is recognizable: an aromatic precision, an energy and a freshness that set these Côte-Rôtie apart from the more opulent versions of other producers. Length, purity of fruit and finesse of tannins are the constants of the range. Stéphane Carrel excels particularly in sunny vintages, where he succeeds in preserving a remarkable freshness and tension.

The cuvées of the Domaine de Bonserine

Côte-Rôtie La Sarrasine: The estate's flagship and emblematic cuvée, sourced from 10 different plots of Côte-Rôtie, on the Côte Brune and the Côte Blonde. A blend of 97% Syrah (old serine) and 3% Viognier, 100% destemmed. Aged 24 months in French oak demi-muids, 60% new, 20% one-wine, 20% two-wine. Production of 2,000 to 2,500 cases per year. First vintage 1999. A precise nose of macerated red fruits, dried rose, golden tobacco and gentle spices (cardamom, nutmeg). A caressing, pure and elongated palate, tight and elegant tannins, a long perfumed finish of cherry stone. Star in the Guide Hachette 2025, "a flattering and complex expression", "a radiant future." The most widely available wine and most representative of the estate's great quality.

Côte-Rôtie La Viallière: A single-vineyard red cuvée sourced from plots on the Côte Blonde of Côte-Rôtie, where the schistous soils, more clayey and lighter than those of the Côte Brune, produce a Syrah in a more floral and elegant style. Aged in demi-muids. A red wine of finesse and delicacy characteristic of the Côte Blonde, with aromas of violet, raspberry and spices, a silky palate and a schistous mineral tension. A more feminine and accessible expression of the Côte-Rôtie terroir.

Côte-Rôtie La Garde: The estate's prestige grande cuvée and an absolute rarity, sourced from just 0.08 hectares of Syrah (serine) aged 60 to 80 years on the Côte Brune, with a delicate touch from the Côte Blonde. Destemmed to 80%. Aged for up to 36 months in small new French oak barrels. Production of only 250 cases per vintage, making it one of the rarest cuvées in the entire Côte-Rôtie appellation. A red wine of exceptional concentration, depth and power, with intense aromas of dark fruits, smoke, liquorice and spices, a dense and voluminous palate, vigorous yet refined tannins, and a finish of incomparable length and persistence. A wine with outstanding aging potential, not to be opened before a minimum of 10 years.

Condrieu Domaine de Bonserine: The estate's sole white cuvée, sourced from 1 hectare of Viognier on the granitic terraces of Condrieu. A white wine of the aromatic richness typical of the grape variety: white flowers (acacia, violet), white peach, apricot, subtle exotic notes. An ample and silky palate, well-balanced acidity and freshness, a long and mineral finish. "The finest Condrieu tasted over two days of tasting" according to enthusiasts visiting the domaine. A Condrieu of great distinction, reflecting the granitic terroir and the unique expertise of the estate.

Septentria (Saint-Joseph, Crozes-Hermitage, Côtes du Rhône Blanc): A négociant range created by the Domaine de Bonserine to offer other appellations from the northern Rhône in the same quality-driven philosophy. A red Saint-Joseph (Syrah on granite), a red Crozes-Hermitage (Syrah on clay and pebbles), and a white Côtes du Rhône (Marsanne and/or Viognier) make up this complementary range, vinified and aged at the domaine with the same rigor as the estate's own cuvées.

WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT US

5 good reasons to buy wines on V&M

...

EXPRESS DELIVERY

In a secure polystyrene packaging

...

INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING

Find out more about VAT-EX sale for outside EU deliveries

...

COLLECTION NEAR PARIS & VAT REFUND FOR TOURISTS

Free collection in our warehouse near central Paris (92)

...