Domaine G&J Bott - Condrieu Lieu-dit L'Aleau White 2021

Wine Region: Rhone Valley- France

Grapes: 100% Viognier

Tasting Notes:
This exclusive cuvee is produced in very limited quantities (934 bottles) on the magnificent granite terroir of Lieu-Dit L’Aleau in Vérin, which is situated between Coteau de Chery and Château Grillet, the original birth place of Viognier. This terroir makes wines of great aromatic complexity with tension and minerality all together creating beautiful length along the palate.

This parcel has a very special place in our hearts, as it is with the Lieu-dit L’Aleau that the entire history of Domaine Bott began… To bring this vineyard back to life where Viognier excels, we began by being lumberjacks to clean the land. Then masons to reassemble the dry stone walls of the chaillets (terraces) collapsed by time, to finally become wine growers by planting our first vines. It was a real revelation, we could finally let ourselves dream of becoming winemakers in the North Rhône Valley. We therefore embarked on our project with passion, looking for other little parcels in the appellations of the North Rhône Valley.

About the winery

Domaine Graeme & Julie Bott are quickly becoming one of the Northern Rhône’s most promising producers. Although they only released their first vintage in 2016, they make handcrafted wines which are gaining a loyal following. Their story is one of hardwork, romance and a stroke of luck. Graeme is from New Zealand while Julie is a native of the Northern Rhône; they met working at Domaine Ogier, one of the most prominent Côte-Rôtie producers. It was through the purchase of their first house that they discovered its impeccably placed garden was on the hillside of Vérin - prime Condrieu AOC - and so their domaine was born. They now own seven hectares of vines spread across the Côte Rôtie, Condieu, St Joseph and little-known Seyssuel. Graeme and Julie are boutique producers through and through: they started by making their wines using a neighbour's garage but have now taken up residence in their own cellar, tucked just beneath La Mouline in Côte-Rôtie. Their winemaking talents are clear. Their silky Vin de Pays Syrah, First Flight, is a brilliant introduction to their superb range and as a result it has quickly become one of Lay & Wheeler’s best-sellers. Each of their wines are nuanced and complex examples of their appellation and are well-worth stocking up on.