Rhône Theme
Timed Online Auction, 2 - 12 February 2024
Rhône | International & South African offering
About the SessionThe first sale of the 2024 Strauss & Co Fine Wine Auction calendar is an exciting Rhône valley and Rhône-style offering and has fast-become one of the most popular at Strauss & Co Fine Wine Auctions.
About this Item
The Domaine is located at a place called Rozier on the heights of Ampuis, 3 km from the village center. Christophe Billon farms 10 hectares of vines in Côte-Rôtie , Condrieu and Vin de Pays des Collines Rhodaniennes, since 1991.
While working at Guigal, Christophe and his wife Maryline began this side project in 1991. He left Guigal in 2008 to dedicate his full time to their estate vineyards. Christophe now makes three Côte-Rôties along with an entry-level Syrah, Viognier, and a beautiful Condrieu.
Provenance
Private Client
Critics Ratings
‘Whispers of fur, charcuterie and smoke lend savory complexity to luminous cassis and mulberry flavors here. A blend of 97% Syrah and 3% Viognier sourced from schist and mica slopes, it's boasts a gleaming acidic spine and fresh, mineral undertone that are revitalizing. Rich, chewy tannins should meld with time and while appealing already, it's a wine that should peak from 2021–2030 hold further still.’ - Anna Lee C. Iijima, Wine Enthusiast, 94/100 (Dec 2020)
‘Understated nose. Black-cherry fruit on the palate with high, chalky tannic grip. No greenness, but the fruit has an underripe character to it. You'd expect more plushness and ripeness from Côte Rôtie in this sort of vintage.’ – Richard Hemming MW, JancisRobinson.com, 15.5/20 (Nov 2018)
‘Saturated ruby. A highly perfumed bouquet evokes ripe black and blue fruits, licorice, olive and succulent flowers, along with mineral and spice accents that build in the glass. Sweet and broad in the mouth, offering juicy boysenberry, candied plum and spicecake favors and a touch of smokiness. Velvety tannins lend gentle grip to a long, spicy finish that leaves smoky mineral and blue fruit notes behind.’ – Josh Raynolds, Vinous, 92/100 (Mar 2020)