Clusel-Roch, Cote Rotie Vialliere, 2022
is backordered and will ship as soon as it is back in stock.
Perched on schist-rich slopes just above Ampuis, Viallière is one of Côte-Rôtie’s top lieux-dits, known for producing Syrah with fine tannins, red fruit lift, and floral perfume. Clusel-Roch, a family-run estate farming organically since the early ‘90s, takes a gentle, hands-off approach: whole-cluster fermentation, native yeasts, and aging in mostly used oak barrels.
The 2022 vintage brings purity and poise—notes of violet, black cherry, olive, and crushed rock, framed by a fresh, linear structure. There’s depth here, but it’s coiled rather than explosive. The whole-cluster fermentation adds aromatic lift and savory complexity without overwhelming the wine’s detail.
Drink with a decant now, or cellar for 10–15 years. For lovers of Syrah that whispers rather than roars—think Jamet, Levet (on a calmer day), or Northern Rhône with a Pinot-like soul—Clusel-Roch’s Viallière 2022 is a beautifully refined, terroir-driven gem.
