GRAEME & JULIE BOTT
northern Rhône
Julie Bott, from the Northern Rhône Valley, and Graeme Bott, from New Zealand, met by chance in the small village of Ampuis while working for Stephane Ogier, a well-known producer in the Côte-Rôtie region. Their shared love for wine inspired them to start their own winery in the Northern Rhône Valley, planting Viognier and Syrah vines in the regions of Condrieu, Côte-Rôtie, Saint-Joseph, and Seyssuel. They began by using their own garage as a cellar for their first three vintages, but have since expanded to a modern cellar in Ampuis with the goal of allowing the unique terroir of schist and granite to shine through in their wines.
Graeme and Julie believe in the craft of winemaking, producing small batches with a focus on quality over quantity. In 2019, they were recognized for their work, receiving the "Winemakers & Terroirs of the Future" award from the AdVini Group in partnership with the Montpellier SupAgro Foundation, which came with a financial investment and training sessions with industry experts.
Graeme and Julie are passionate about preserving and showcasing the terroir of their adopted home and use sustainable and organic farming practices to grow their grapes.
Owner
Region
Terroirs
Farming
Harvest
Size
Grapes Grown
Website
Vineland Rep.
Graeme and Julie Bott
Northern Rhône
Crozes-Hermitage, Saint-Joseph, Cornas, Côte-Rôtie, Condrieu
Organic
Manual
7 hectares
Marssanne, Roussanne, Viognier,
Syrah
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Media
bettane+desseauve
Graeme & Julie Bott FIRST FLIGHT Viognier
Appellation: IGP Collines Rhodaniennes
Alcohol: 12.5%
Grape variety: 100% Viognier
Soil: Granite in Ampuis & Condrieu villages
Aging: 9 months in French oak barrels
Notes: Pale gold with golden highlights. Expressive and delicate with floral notes and fresh fruit. Elegant on the palate with a delicate opening and beautiful minerality.
90
2018
WS
Graeme & Julie Bott Crozes-Hermitage Blanc
Appellation: Crozes-Hermitage AOP
Alcohol: 12.5%
Grape variety: 80% Roussanne – 20% Marsanne
Soil: Round gravels with silt and sand
Aging: 9 months in French oak barrels
Aging potential: 5 to 10 years
Notes: This weaves dried apricot, mango and yellow apple with zesty spices and vibrant green herbs. The palate is lined with talclike minerals, and pink grapefruit acidity drives the smoke-kissed finish. A distinctive style.
90
2018
WS
95
2020
JS
Graeme & Julie Bott Saint-Joseph Blanc
Appellation: Saint-Joseph AOP
Alcohol: 12.5%
Grape varieties: 70% Roussanne – 30% Marsanne
Soil: Granite
Aging: 9 months in French oak barrels
Aging potential: 5 to 10 years.
Notes: Fascinating nose of hay, fresh nuts and lime zest with just a hint of beeswax. Ripe and concentrated, but also vibrant with stunning wet-stone freshness, plus a touch of salty licorice that make this an exciting and innovative white St.-Joseph. Long, mineral finish. – JS.
92
2020
RP
94
2020
JS
Graeme & Julie Bott Condrieu
Appellation: Condrieu AOP
Alcohol: 13%
Grape variety: 100% Viognier
Soil: Granite in the Viognier Birth Place – Condrieu village
Aging: 9 months in French oak barrels
Aging potential: 5 to 8 years
Notes: Golden in color with pale yellow highlights. Expressive and delicate on the nose with elegant floral notes and fresh yellow fruit aromas. Rich and full-bodied with incredible balance and an emphasis on freshness. The finish is long with a delightful hint of bitterness.
93
2020
JS
93
2020
WS
Graeme & Julie Bott Condrieu ‘Lieu-dit l’Aleau’
“This parcel has a very special place in our hearts, as it is with the Lieu-dit L’Aleau that the entire history of Domaine Bott began… To bring this vineyard back to life where Viognier excels, we began by being lumberjacks to clean the land. Then masons to reassemble the dry-stone walls of the chaillets (terraces) collapsed by time, to finally become wine growers by planting our first vines. It was a real revelation; we could finally let ourselves dream of becoming winemakers in the North Rhône Valley. We therefore embarked on our project with passion, looking for other little parcels in the appellations of the North Rhône Valley.”- G&J Bott.
Appellation: Condrieu AOP
Alcohol: 13%
Grape variety: 100% Viognier
Soil: Granite in the Viognier Birth Place – Condrieu village
Note: This exclusive cuvee is produced in very limited quantities (934 bottles) on the magnificent granite terroir of Lieu-Dit L’Aleau in Vérin, which is situated between Coteau de Chery and Château Grillet, the original birth place of Viognier. This terroir makes wines of great aromatic complexity with tension and minerality all together creating beautiful length along the palate.
Graeme & Julie Bott First Flight Syrah
Appellation: IGP Collines Rhodaniennes
Alcohol: 13%
Grape variety: 100% Syrah
Soil: Granite in Ampuis & Condrieu
Aging: 9 months in French oak barrels
Aging potential: 5 years
Notes: This Syrah may be light on structure, but it’s big on charm! Big damson-plum and sour-cherry aromas, plus some pepper and spice make this immediately appealing. Very appealing balance of bright fruit, a touch of supple tannin and lively acidity. Plenty of herbal and spicy notes at the surprisingly long finish. – JS.
92
2018
WS
91
2020
JS
Graeme & Julie Bott Crozes-Hermitage Rouge
Appellation: Crozes-Hermitage AOP
Alcohol: 13%
Grape variety: 100% Syrah
Soil: Round gravels with silt and sand
Aging: 10 months in French oak barrels
Aging potential: 5 years.
Notes: All destemmed and brought up in barrels, the 2020 Crozes-Hermitage sports a deep purple hue to go with bright blue fruits, candied violets, and ground pepper-like aromas and flavors. Wonderfully balanced and elegant, with silky tannins, it's a pure, impressive Crozes-Hermitage that should evolve for a solid decade or so. – JD.
92
2020
JD
94
2020
JD
Graeme & Julie Bott Saint-Joseph Rouge
Appellation: Saint-Joseph AOP
Alcohol: 13%
Grape variety: 100% Syrah
Soil: Granite
Aging: 15 months in French oak barrels
Aging potential: 8 to 10 years.
Notes: Deep red with a complex nose with notes of red fruit and smoked lardons. Vibrant and elegant on the palate, this wine is a perfect representation of this northern Rhône terroir. Silky tannins, and a long, satisfying finish. Delicious with roasted poultry and grilled meats.
93
2020
RVF
94
2020
JS
Graeme & Julie Bott KĀMAKA Terroir of Seyssuel
"Our KĀMAKA blend is produced on the exceptional terroir of Seyssuel, a true 'rock juice' of micaschists. All of our planting was done with the help a metal bar, that's right! Thus, it was evident to find its stony terroir in the name of our 100% Syrah blend. And when a New Zealander - Kiwi Winemaker steps on the soil of Seyssuel... it inevitably gives 'KĀMAKA' which in Māori means rock, stones." G&J Bott.
Appellation: IGP Collines Rhodaniennes
Alcohol: 12.5%
Grape variety: 100% Syrah
Soil: Micaschiste
Aging: 15 months in French oak barrels
Aging potential: 10 years.
Notes: This youthful syrah is brimming with forest-berry, smoke and wild-herb aromas. On the palate it comes off as remarkably sleek and fresh in the heavyweight Rhone context. Intensely peppery and stony finish with so much energy. Delicious, but also age-worthy. – JS.
93
2020
RVF
93
2020
JS
Graeme & Julie Côte-Rôtie
Appellation: Côte-Rôtie AOP
Alcohol: 13%
Grape variety: 100% Syrah
Soil: Schist & Granit
Aging: 20 months in French oak barrels
Aging potential: 15 to 20 years.
Notes: A reserved and very elegant style of Cote-Rotie with none of the extravagance that some examples have.
Fine tannins on the very clean, focused palate. Fascinating smoke, pepper and wet-stone notes.
Long, finely etched finish. – JS.
93
2019
JS
94
2020
RVF
