Domaine Graeme & Julie Bott : Lieu-Dit Fongeant 2023

Characteristics and Tasting Notes for the Lieu-Dit Fongeant 2023 from Domaine Graeme & Julie Bott

Tasting Notes

Colour
The colour reveals a deep red hue.

Nose
The nose opens with an intense minerality, releasing aromas of wild blackberry and black olive. It then develops greater complexity with notes of liquorice, pencil lead and graphite, enhanced by touches of fine leather and black truffle.

Palate
Showing remarkable natural power, the palate seduces with its infinitely velvety tannins. The finish lingers at great length, carried by an ever-present granitic freshness.

Food and Wine Pairing

This red wine pairs wonderfully with characterful meats, such as venison tournedos with cocoa nibs and black truffle. More generally, it will beautifully complement game, fine cuts of beef and rich sauced dishes featuring autumnal flavours or mushrooms.

Serving and Cellaring

For an optimal tasting experience, it is recommended to open and decant the bottle at least an hour before serving, at a temperature between 17 and 18°C. Built for a very long evolution, this Lieu-Dit Fongeant 2023 can be cellared and enjoyed from 2027 through to around 2045.

The Elegance and Mineral Power of a Great Côte-Rôtie Wine

The Estate

Born from a genuine passion for the terroirs of the Rhône Valley, Domaine Graeme & Julie Bott was officially founded in 2015. Starting from scratch, the current owners, Julie Bott, a native of the region, and Graeme Bott, from New Zealand, began their adventure by clearing abandoned plots and making wine in a simple garage. Now based in Ampuis, the estate is renowned for its entirely manual work and absolute rigour. It stands out for producing wines of remarkable purity, precisely reflecting the schist and granite soils.

The Vineyard

Located on the prestigious Côte Brune, within the Côte-Rôtie appellation, the Fongeant lieu-dit enjoys an exceptional setting. The vines thrive on steep terraces composed of iron-rich schist and granite, giving the grapes a unique concentration and minerality. Committed to preserving this outstanding terroir, the estate applies the principles of certified organic farming, with maintenance and harvesting carried out entirely by hand.

The Vintage

The year 2023 was marked by particularly contrasting weather conditions across France. After a very dry winter, spring turned out cold and wet, favouring downy mildew pressure. Summer then brought an intense heatwave in August. Despite these challenges, the growing cycle resulted in grapes reaching optimal ripeness, offering a remarkable balance between richness and freshness.

Winemaking and Ageing

The making of the Lieu-Dit Fongeant 2023 is the result of meticulous attention. After partial destemming, the grapes undergo cold maceration in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks. Fermentation starts naturally through indigenous yeasts. To preserve the finesse of the tannins, extraction is gentle, limited to a single daily pump-over at the start of the vatting process. Finally, the wine benefits from an extended ageing period of around 20 months in French oak barrels previously used for several wines, refining its structure without masking the fruit.

Grape Variety

100% Syrah