The wine domain of Christophe Pichon offers his own vision from various Rhône Valley appellations
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Following our introductory tour into Rhône Valley wines (read our article here), we are glad to introduce you the jewels cherished by the Christophe Pichon’s domain, implanted in Chavanay. As a real family affair, pursuing the heritage from his father’s farm, Christophe Pichon has been producing wine since 1993, on a surface of 25 hectares covering some of the most prestigious appellations from the wide and internationally acclaimed Rhône Valley area. 
Following this, don’t miss the 6.5 ha belonging to red Saint-Joseph and 2 ha related to white Saint Joseph. This colorful wedding is located on the right bank of the Rhône river, with these plots being based on homogeneous and essentially granitic soils. Structured by vines evolving on sloped planted terraces, those vineyards stand on a large scale age range, from 5 (notably in white juices) until the early 50 years old. This mixity probably explains the heterogeneity and richness of flavors, present inside the line of Saint-Joseph (mostly composed of 90% Marsanne and 10% Roussanne for the white wines and only Syrah varieties for the red wines), issued by this Domaine Christophe Pichon. For instance, why don’t you ask for this delicate 2019 Saint Joseph, expressing the purity from Marsanne? Aged during 10 months in barrels of 3 years maximum, you could also feel a touch of granite, but also fresh floral and honeyed notes that would match with fishes.
Adding to this, don’t miss the 5.9 ha extending on the Côte Rôtie, which is maybe one of the oldest vineyards in France, with an additional 1.3 ha of surface this year 2020, starring a southern exposition on hillsides. For your information, and depending on the location of the vineyards, a distinction needs to be made between the Côte Rôtie Brune, which offers more full-bodied wines that age more slowly, and in another hand, the Côte Rôtie Blonde side which proposes more delicate wines. It’s commonly known that Syrah is the main grape variety of this appellation, which is sometimes added by a touch of Viognier variety. In this case, we could suggest you to try the Côte Rôtie Promesse 2019, fully made of 90% Syrah and 10% Viognier. Therefore, the aging phase is estimated of 13 months, 75% realized in new barrels and 25% in one-year old barrels.
The aging is the same for the Côte Rôtie Rozier 2019, but this time only in new barrels. This sensation of young barrels still pursues with the Côte Rôtie La Comtesse cuvée, but here during 18 months. This Côte Blonde 2018 features precious Syrah grapes, with the oldest vines planted in 1933.
Adding to this, count on the 1 ha of Cornas appellation that should be mentioned through the acquisition of grapes, again evolving on a granite soil situated at the top and middle of the slopes. Those fruits mainly grow on plots located on the left bank of the Rhône river on schist soils. There, you could find a mix between 0.75 ha of Syrah, and 0.25 ha of Viognier.
