MAISON STEPHAN
Côte-Rotie
Rhône
The Domaine’s first harvest was in 1991, but wasn’t until 1994 that Jean-Michel bottled his first wine (for the first few years, he sold the grapes off to Guigal). The following year he received the organic certification, though the vineyards had been farmed as such since the very beginning.
Jean-Michel’s passion for biology and plants led him to study winemaking in Belleville (Saône et Loire) as well as in Beaujolais where he met other natural wine pioneers like Marcel Lapierre and Philippe & Michèle Aubèry of Domaine Gramenon.
From 1997 he took the brave decision to convert to biodynamics, working on approximately five hectares in Côte Rôtie, planted with Syrah and Serine mainly. The vineyards are on terraces and slopes, some of it so steep that they don't even allow his horse to work on.
As of 2017, Jean-Michel’s son, Romain, joined the domaine giving birth to Maison Stephan and together they started farming an additional five hectares in and around nearby villages such as Verin, Condrieu and Ampuis.
Le Grand Blanc
Vintage 2021
Style White
Region Condrieu, Verin and Roussillon, Rhône
Varieties Marsanne, Roussane, Viognier
ABV 14%
Soils Sand, Granite
Farming Biodynamic
Winemaking A blend of the three varieties from vineyards in different nearby villages, between the Chasse-sur-Rhône and Roussillon departments. The grapes are hand-harvested. Direct pressing and natural vinification with indigenous yeasts. Ageing in stainless steel.
Tasting Note Apricots, wild jasmine, chestnuts and honey. A lovely round warm mouthfeel with plenty of texture and intensity.
Syrah
Vintage 2022
Style Red
Region Ampuis and Chasse-sur-Rhône, Rhône
Varieties Syrah
ABV 12.5%
Soils Sand, Granite
Farming Biodynamic
Winemaking Hand-harvested grapes are vinified whole bunch sans soufre in tank with the same natural winemaking philosophy as the Côte-Rôtie, yet released in the spring after six months of ageing (also in stainless steel). Average production for this wine is currently capped at 10,000 bottles.
Tasting Note It displays fresh blackberry notes with crushed black pepper, violets and hints of tobacco. This vintage is intensely perfumed with fine grained tannins. Lovely energy and elegance.
Côte-Rotie, Les Binardes
Vintage 2019
Style Red
Region Côte-Rotie, Rhône
Varieties Syrah, Viognier
ABV 13%
Soils Granite, Gneiss, Mica Schist
Farming Biodynamic
Winemaking Les Binardes comes from the vines JM planted in the lower part of Coteaux du Tupin in the early years of the Domaine, now 30 years old on average. Semi-carbonic maceration for the Syrah over three weeks in tank. As it is tradition in the region, a small percentage of Viognier is blended in. The wine then ages for a whole year in stainless steel before bottling.
Tasting Note Les Binardes represents the most immediate of the Domaine’s range of Côte-Rotie’s. Its explosive nose offers generous dark fruit mixed with notes of liquorice and a precise mineral imprint on the finish.
Côte-Rotie, Coteaux du Bassenon
Vintage 2018
Style Red
Region Côte-Rotie, Rhône
Varieties Syrah, Serine, Viognier
ABV 14.5%
Soils Granite, Gneiss with Biotite
Farming Biodynamic
Winemaking From the most southerly vineyard in Côte-Rôtie, the majority of the vines in this parcel were planted in 1896, making them the first vines planted after the phylloxera epidemic of the late 19th century. Fruit is whole-cluster fermented, aged in barrels for 24 months and bottled unfiltered without added sulfites.
Tasting Note Bassenon has all the notes that you’d expect from the combination of Syrah and Serine. Generous blackberry fruit, cinnamon, liquorice and little bursts of violets. Albeit really young, what captivates is the freshness on the palate which makes for an extremely long finish and enhances the mineral imprint of the soils.
Côte-Rotie, Coteaux du Tupin
Vintage 2018
Style Red
Region Côte-Rotie, Rhône
Varieties Serine
ABV 14.5%
Soils Leuco Gneiss, Quartz
Farming Biodynamic
Winemaking Tupin comes exclusively from Serine vines, an older variety related to Syrah found only around Côte-Rôtie that has lower yields but incredible quality. The age of the vines and the southwest exposure make this the richest and most concentrated of the range. Vinified whole bunch and aged for 24 months in oak barrels. No filtration and fully sans soufre.
Tasting Note A complex bouquet packed with ripe dark fruit, smoked meat and liquorice. Sappy and penetrating on the palate, offering sweet cassis, black cherry, boysenberry and a gamey overtone. Finishes impressively long and smoky, with a pronounced mineral score and grippy tannins. This will really blossom after a few years of cellar ageing.