Domaine Marie et Pierre Benetiere
Condrieu, Cote Rotie
Northern Rhone, France
Recommended by World of Fine Wine
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Pierre Benetiere started his tiny estate in late 1980s with the purchase of 2 ha of vines in the Cote Blonde lieu-dit of Cordeloux in Cote Rotie. Not all of it was planted so he has been clearing and planting this steep hillside ever since. He also inherited one very small parcel, right in the middle of Guigal’s La Turque vineyard, which was given to his parents in settlement of a business debt.
His reputation has grown over the last 15 years or so entirely by word of mouth since Benetiere never shows his wines to critics or at fairs and shows. He works the vines organically, paying huge attention to the living matter in the soils, and he makes the wines very naturally and simply using traditional methods. He doesn’t destem, uses only wild yeasts and adds nothing at all to the wines, which are aged in barrique and bottled unfiltered. His Cote Rotie and Condrieu are wines with gorgeous, gentle purity of fruit, silky texture and great mineral acidity.
Until 5 years ago, Benetiere was making the wines in his tiny, cramped garage adjoining the family house in the suburbs of the town of Roussillon across the river from Condrieu. It was an appropriately artisan setting but difficult. 5 years ago he moved to a decent-sized cellar in the heart of the village of Condrieu.
Pierre is married to a Spanish woman, with a young daughter, and loves modern Spanish culture. He is especially passionate about food, both cooking and eating, and avidly follows the seasons for different produce. He’s also a huge rugby fan, which he will discuss at every visit to the cellar.
