Domaine Joseph Roty
Domaine Joseph Roty is located in the Côte de Nuits. His Gevrey-Chambertin wines sit at the heart of the lineup, which includes not only wines from Champs Chenys and Clos Prieur Bas but also Charmes-Chambertin, made from very old vines. Further north, at Marsannay, Roty cultivates the Les Ouzeloy lieu-dit. Pinot Noir covers all these areas, giving not only red wines but also rosé wines from Marsannay.
None of the wines here are made to be consumed casually or quickly, a fact that becomes clear from their names alone.
The vineyards
Roty's vineyard holdings are arranged in a kind of ladder-like pattern rather than as a single block. Marsannay is located at the northern end of Côte de Nuits, and it is here that the domaine bottles its Les Ouzeloy lieu-dit wine. Further south, Gevrey-Chambertin accounts for most of the names listed on the wine list.
Within Gevrey, the domaine manages the vineyard as separate plots rather than consolidating them. Champs Chenys and Clos Prieur Bas each produce their own separate cuvées, a choice that is justified only when the flavors of each vineyard actually differ. Ranked above the village wines, Charmes-Chambertin is a Grand Cru parcel, further distinguished by the age of the vines indicated on the label.
Below that are the regional Bourgogne and the village-level Côte de Nuits-Villages. There are five appellations and several named vineyard parcels. The domaine's layout is narrow and vertical, concentrated in a single section of Côte de Nuits rather than spread across the entire Burgundy area.
One grape, two wine types
From villages wines through Grand Cru like Charmes-Chambertin, it is Pinot Noir:
- Pinot Noir is used in all red wines at every level of the appellation hierarchy
- Pinot Noir is used again in Marsannay, this time to produce a light-bodied, dry rosé
The wines
While these six wines provide a good overview of the winery, they are not the whole story.
- Bourgogne Cuvée de Pressoniers: Regional bottlings
- Marsannay Les Ouzeloy: A named lieu-dit located at the northern tip of Côte de Nuits
- Gevrey-Chambertin: Village wine
- Gevrey-Chambertin Cuvée de Champs Chenys
- Gevrey-Chambertin Cuvée de Clos Prieur Bas
- Charmes-Chambertin Très Vieilles Vignes: A Grand Cru made from the domaine's oldest vines
In addition, Roty has bottled the village-level Côte de Nuits-Villages and the previously mentioned Marsannay rosé. The pattern is consistent: each vineyard is managed separately, the cuvée names describe their characteristics, and the level of ambition rises distinctly from Bourgogne up to the Grand Cru.
Frequently asked questions
Which part of Burgundy does Domaine Joseph Roty work in?
The Côte de Nuits, the northern half of the Côte d'Or. Its vineyards run from Marsannay in the north down to Gevrey-Chambertin, where most of the range comes from.
Does Roty make anything other than red wine?
Yes. There is a dry Marsannay rosé, made from Pinot Noir and light in body.
What is the top wine in the range?
Charmes-Chambertin Très Vieilles Vignes, a grand cru of Gevrey-Chambertin. The cuvée name refers to very old vines.
Why do so many of the wines carry extra names on the label?
Because the domaine keeps its parcels separate. Champs Chenys and Clos Prieur Bas are both Gevrey-Chambertin, but they are bottled apart rather than blended into the village wine.
