Christophe Bonnefond is a quiet man. Our tastings with him each year are pleasant and friendly, but he’s not what you’d call a “talker”. He’s happy to answer questions, but rarely volunteers information, preferring to let his wines speak for themselves.
Sometimes the most impressive wines come from the most unassuming of winemakers. We see our fair share of egocentric vignerons, but often the most talented winemakers are the quietest.
For fans of Syrah, France’s Northern Rhône Valley is Mecca. It’s at the grape’s northern ripening limit, a geographic marker where grapes usually find their finest expression. The most famous reds from the Northern Rhône -- from towns like Côte Rôtie, Hermitage, and St-Joseph -- are some of the longest lived and most highly sought after wines in the world.
Unique. The impossibly steep hillsides of the Côte Rôtie seem like the last place in the world to grow vines. With slopes reaching 60 degrees in places, all field work — planting, pruning, treating, harvesting — must be done entirely by hand. Every time we visit we wonder aloud what on earth would drive people […]