Buy Côte-Rôtie: great red wines of the Rhône

A legendary appellation of the Northern Rhône Valley

The Côte-Rôtie appellation is one of the most sought-after great red wines of the Northern Rhône Valley. Located on the right bank of the Rhône, it embodies both the power of Syrah and a rare aromatic finesse. This great Rhône red wins people over with its depth, its complexity and its remarkable ageing potential.

Côte-Rôtie is made mainly from Syrah, sometimes complemented by a small proportion of Viognier. This distinctive feature gives the wine a unique signature, recognised throughout the world and closely tied to the identity of the Côte-Rôtie appellation.

How should you choose and buy your Côte-Rôtie?

• To discover it: a classic cuvée, already approachable when young
• As a gift: a renowned estate and a vintage that is ready to drink
• For cellaring: a single-plot or old-vine cuvée, from a structured vintage
• Easy pairings: grilled beef, lamb, slow-cooked dishes

Tip: use the filters (price, estate, vintage) to quickly spot the Côte-Rôtie that suits your budget and your occasion. All our bottles are shipped with care, in packaging designed for transporting wine.

A spectacular and demanding terroir

The Côte-Rôtie vineyard covers around 300 hectares of steep slopes facing due south. The soils, made up of schist, gneiss and granite, require precise viticulture carried out by hand. These extreme conditions explain the rarity, the concentration and the longevity of the wines.

Côte Brune and Côte Blonde: two complementary expressions

The appellation is traditionally divided into two zones. The Côte Brune gives intense, structured and deep wines, while the Côte Blonde produces more elegant, floral cuvées that are often approachable younger. This duality adds to the diversity of Côte-Rôtie styles.

What does Côte-Rôtie taste like?

On tasting, a Côte-Rôtie offers a complex and refined aromatic palette, which develops remarkably over the years. Red Côte-Rôtie stands out for its balance of intensity, finesse and length on the palate.

• Ripe black fruit: blackcurrant, blackberry, blueberry
• Noble spices: black pepper, liquorice
• Floral notes of violet
• Smoky touches, sometimes bacon-like with age
• Structured palate, silky tannins, lingering finish

Côte-Rôtie prices: how much does it cost?

The price of a Côte-Rôtie reflects the rarity of the terroir and the craftsmanship of the winegrowers. Cuvées can be found from around €50, and some can exceed €150 depending on the estate, the vintage and the type of cuvée. The average price of a Côte-Rôtie lies between €60 and €90 for a quality bottle. Single-plot cuvées, old vines and the most sought-after estates generally sit at the top end of these price levels.

• Accessible cuvées (€50-70): ideal for discovering the appellation and ordering a first bottle
• Classic cuvées (€70-100): an excellent compromise between immediate pleasure and ageing potential
• Prestige cuvées (€100+): single-plot or old-vine wines, intended for long ageing

To compare prices across the vintages available for sale, see our dedicated article: Best Côte-Rôtie vintage: a buying guide by year.

Which Côte-Rôtie vintages should you choose?

The choice of vintage has a strong influence on the style, the price and the ageing potential of a Côte-Rôtie. For a Côte-Rôtie that is ready to drink, go for vintages that have already mellowed, such as 2019 or 2020; for cellaring, turn to more structured years such as 2022 or 2023, which can develop for a long time in the cellar.

→ Find our complete guide, with drinking windows and styles by year: Best Côte-Rôtie vintage.

To go further and compare styles, read our article Discovering the wines of Côte-Rôtie, as well as our analysis Côte-Rôtie vs Hermitage.

How long can you keep a Côte-Rôtie?

Ageing potential depends on the style of the cuvée and on the vintage:

• Accessible cuvées: 5 to 10 years
• Classic cuvées: 10 to 20 years
• Great wines for ageing: 20 to 30 years and more

How should you serve a Côte-Rôtie?

Serve Côte-Rôtie between 16 and 18 °C. Young wines benefit from being decanted for one to two hours to soften their tannic structure, while old vintages should simply be aerated to preserve their finesse.

Food and wine pairings with Côte-Rôtie

• Côte de bœuf or grilled rib-eye steak
• Lamb, roasted or in a sauce
• Feathered or furred game
• Slow-cooked dishes with bold flavours
• Mature hard cheeses

Our selection of Côte-Rôtie wines to order online

Our collection brings together cuvées from iconic estates, selected for their consistency, their authenticity and their ability to express the Côte-Rôtie terroir. The wines are stored in good conditions and carefully prepared for safe shipping. Order your Côte-Rôtie directly online, with home delivery in France and Belgium.

Need advice before you buy? Contact us: we will help you choose according to your budget, the occasion (gift, meal, cellar) and your preferred style.

FAQ: Côte-Rôtie

What grape variety is Côte-Rôtie made from?

Côte-Rôtie is made mainly from Syrah, sometimes complemented by a small proportion of Viognier.

What is the average price of a Côte-Rôtie?

The average price of a bottle of Côte-Rôtie lies between €60 and €90. Entry-level cuvées start at around €50, while the great single-plot cuvées often exceed €100 to €150. To compare prices by vintage, see our Côte-Rôtie vintage guide.

Can you find an inexpensive Côte-Rôtie?

Côte-Rôtie is a rare and demanding appellation: prices reflect how difficult it is to farm these steep slopes. It is hard to find a quality Côte-Rôtie below €50. On the other hand, some accessible cuvées at €50-60 offer very good value for money for discovering the appellation.

Côte-Rôtie: how long can it be kept?

Depending on the cuvée and the vintage, a Côte-Rôtie can be kept from 5 years to more than 30 years.

Which Côte-Rôtie should you choose as a gift?

A balanced cuvée from a renowned estate that is already approachable makes an excellent choice. Go for a vintage between 5 and 10 years old to give a bottle that is ready to drink.

Which Côte-Rôtie vintage should you buy in 2026?

For drinking over the next few years, the 2018, 2019 and 2020 vintages are in fine drinking windows. For cellaring, 2022 and 2023 are very promising years. See our complete Côte-Rôtie vintage guide for more details.

Why is there Viognier in Côte-Rôtie?

Viognier brings floral notes, a silkier texture and extra elegance to the blend.

Should you decant a Côte-Rôtie?

Yes, especially young wines: decanting for one to two hours helps to soften the tannins. With old vintages, opt for gentler aeration when serving.

What is the difference between Côte-Rôtie and Hermitage?

Hermitage is often more massive and concentrated, while Côte-Rôtie favours a more floral and spicy expression. For a detailed comparison, see Côte-Rôtie vs Hermitage.

Further reading

• Best Côte-Rôtie vintage: a guide by year
• Discovering the wines of Côte-Rôtie
• Côte-Rôtie vs Hermitage: what are the differences?
• Discover Saint-Joseph wines