At the very top of the hill overlooking the northern Rhône town of Ampuis, you’ll find the modest yet rising-star estate of Christophe Billon. Since 1991, Christophe has crafted honest, authentic Syrah wines from these steep, terraced vineyards. His family’s roots go back generations in Ampuis; the family’s oldest parcel of vines was planted by Christophe’s grandfather in 1942. The family crafts four Côte-Rôtie cuvées, each generously structured and stunningly pure, and each a faithful representation of the power and purity of these “roasted slopes.”

The vineyard ‘La Vialliere’ faces southeast at the top of the slope, just north of Ampuis. Here mica pieces mix with mostly schist soils, characteristic of the ‘Brune’ side of Côte-Rôtie. Destemmed; fermented on indigenous yeasts in temperature controlled, stainless steel tanks. Aged for 26 months in French oak cask (300L; 30% new wood). Aromas of red and black fruits, dried flowers, crushed stones. Full-bodied yet suave and silky, pretty purple fruits. Red meat or autumn stews; aged French cheeses.