Profile: Domaine Joseph Roty (Gevrey)

Update 8.5.2012(14.4.2010)billn

dom-joseph-rotyIndividualist, recluse, exasperating, curmudgeons, iconoclasts, eccentrics, enfant terrible: The limited amount of printed information to be found about this domaine certainly piqued my interest, for instance try these quotes:

“Roty refuses to disclose what acreage he has — ‘no one but me knows the age of my wife or the extent of my vineyards … my importers will think that I am a millionaire and will want to know why there isn’t more wine.’”
Remington Norman, The Great Domaines of Burgundy

Joseph Roty is not the easiest person to do business with. Indeed to do anything with. Both he and the rest of his family: Madame, sons Philippe and Pierre-Jean, seem to have an almost paranoiac distrust of outsiders, the local bureaucracy, and other people in general. They do not consort with their neighbours, play no part in Gevrey-Chambertin promotional activities, and are closed to almost all journalists, including myself.
Clive Coates, The World of Fine Wine 9, 2005

Thus it was with high expectations that I would enter the lion’s den – hoping to discover the truth about Domaine Roty – though I thought it better not to ask about their ‘reputation’!

A little domaine history

Since 1710 the family have been based in Gevrey. The current ‘reputation’ of Domaine Joseph Roty was down to Joseph himself, not just the comments of Remington and Clive, but also the quality of domaine’s highly sought-after wines, wines mainly produced from old and in some cases some very, very old vines – très vieilles vignes if you prefer!

Joseph started the core of today’s domaine in the late 1960s with vines that came from his grandfather, vines that included Mazy (they spell like Rousseau), Griotte and Charmes-Chambertin grand crus.

Joseph was lost to this world in 2008, and although widow Roty still works behind the scenes, it is the sons of Joseph – Philippe and Pierre-Jean – the 11th generation at this family domaine that do the heavy stuff while a 12th generation are playing in the yard. Philippe had anyway being working progressively more with his father since about 1990 – there is very little that has been changed.

Of vines and wines

I have to say that I was warmly welcomed by Madame Roty who took me through a range of wines from the 2007 vintage, the 2008s were not shown as the family only finished their bottling the previous week. Tasting is a no frills operation that is undertaken up against the barrels in the cuverie with a bucket at your feet. I found Madame Roty to be very open and talkative, whether it be about the vines, the market or internet retailers who ‘offer’ their wine and once people want to buy, then ask the domaine if they can buy some as they have customers waiting!

Today there are a couple of labels, the label of Domaine Joseph Roty is augmented with the label of Domaine Philippe Roty who has added some more Marsannay to the Gevrey. Whilst the wineries (cuveries) are completely separate – by law – they are actually separated only by the main road through the village. Vinification philosophy and vineyard maintenance are identical – as are the commercial/family contacts.

Starting with the vines, it is possible that only Domaine Fourrier can compete on an ‘average’ age basis in Gevrey; Roty’s vine average more than 60 years of age, though for ultimate age, Roty take the trophy with their Charmes-Chambertin ‘Très Vieilles Vignes’ – and très they are; over 60% of their plot were planted in 1881. These are some of the oldest vines in the whole Côte d’Or, the first ‘porte-greffes’ (grafted vines) the family planted to try and combat the phylloxera louse. Madame Roty notes that in those days vines were not typically planted in rows, so the 60% that survive do so only because it was possible to plough between them, vines ‘in the way’ were discarded. Despite the average being so old, the domaine have no problem achieving 25-30 hl/ha.

Moving onto vinification, there is destemming and cold-soaking before fermentations that are generally kept below 30°C. The wines are matured in oak, normally not older than 2 year-old barrels, but not all new either – the barrels are usually ‘highly toasted’.

Tasting:

Here are a selection of wines tasted at the cuverie 24th March 2010, all from half bottles. To summarise:

Each wine, taken in isolation, flirts with being very ‘special’ indeed – the 2007s (below) have the impact and density of some decent producer’s 2006s. If I’m honest, I’m slightly disappointed in one respect, that there is a strong family resemblance across the range of wines – it’s down to the toasty, dark oak aromas and flavours, and it’s really a matter of taste – that said, and I don’t suppose I will open up 3 in a row at home, so no worries! A very impressive range of wines.
 

2007 Joseph Roty, Bourgogne Grand Ordinaire
Aromas of dark fruit augmented with warm, creamy brûlée. This is fresh and has plenty of impact. Really good flavours – highly impressive BGO this. Given its normal price-point, I can’t recommend it enough.
2007 Joseph Roty, Bourgogne Cuvée Pressionniers
A blend of several parcels, though the youngest vines (very young for this domaine) are still older than 30 years. Deeper coloured. Dark fruit. Lots of impact, concentration and structure here – wow – it betters many a villages Gevrey.
2007 Joseph Roty, Marsannay Rouge
Also an assembly of multiple plots. Very clean dark fruit aromas. Plenty of dark flavours to match the nose, partly oak-driven. A powerful 07 villages.
2007 Joseph Roty, Marsannay Les Ouzeloy
Also aromatically dark, but wstill wider than the last – really impressive. A wide-angle panorama of flavours, mouth-filling, this is very lovely. There’s plenty of structure but there’s balance too. A little spice and licorice as you head into the finish. High class Marsannay.
2007 Philippe Roty, Marsannay Quartier
The aromas are as dark as the last wine, but here there is a hint more subtlety. More tannin, a little less width but the flavours are penetrating. This is super.
2007 Philippe Roty, Marsannay Champs St.Etienne
Again a wide panorama of aromas, of not though is that this is has a more red-fruit character than the previous wines. Very silky in the mouth, though you finish with a hint of astringency. The fruit flavours are also a little ‘redder’. Not as ‘big’ as the Marsannay Quartier, but a little finer.
2007 Philippe Roty, Côte de Nuits Villages
Wide dark aromas with a hint of brûlée. A little fatter than the Marsannay Champs St.Etienne, a little more structure too. Back to the dark fruit. This lingers very well.
2007 Joseph Roty, Gevrey-Chambertin
Dark, ripe, slightly sweet aromas. Energy, width and plenty of flavour dimension – very well balanced. Fine villages.
2007 Joseph Roty, Gevrey-Chambertin Champs-Chenys
Aromatically wider. The structure is finer, more tailored. The linear, mineral flavours are more of an insinuation than overt fruit, but that flavour really sticks in the finish.
2007 Joseph Roty, Gevrey-Chambertin La Brunelle
Virtually the garden of the domaine, but the paperwork is such a chore that the family do not waste their time pursuing a monopole label – though they are the only supplier. Deep, dark fruit but (hooray!) a hint of red too. Much, much finer tannin – if the last wine was ‘tailored’, this wears an executive suit. Very well balanced with super, slowly fading flavours.
2007 Philippe Roty, Gevrey-Chambertin Champs-Chenys Vieilles Vignes
Denser, tighter and clearly finer aromas. There is a wave of fine but ripe tannin, the flavour, initially engulfed slowly grows and grows on the tongue. Really super finish flavour. Very impressive.
2007 Joseph Roty, Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Les Fontenys
The first wine with a floral dimension to the aromas. Again this is quite structured, but not enough to overwhelm the rest of the wine. Super mid-palate intensity.
2007 Joseph Roty, Mazy-Chambertin
Tight, very clean dark fruit. Lots of very silky tannin – a darkly flavoured mix of fruit and oak. Very muscular, but if not balletic, it’s certainly lean, athletic muscle. Hard to believe it’s a 2007.
2007 Joseph Roty, Charmes-Chambertin TVV
After the previous wines, surprisingly this is not about aromatic impact, rather a subtly growing width of aromas. The tannins are less silky than those of the Mazis, but all is forgotten as you move through the mid-palate complexity and dimensions. This really is quite something.

Domaine Joseph Roty
24 r Marechal de Lattre de Tassigny
21220 GEVREY CHAMBERTIN
Tel: +33 (0)3 80 34 38 97
Fax: +33 (0)3 80 34 13 59

Agree? Disagree? Anything you'd like to add?

There are 11 responses to “Profile: Domaine Joseph Roty (Gevrey)”

  1. matthew cannelora29th December 2010 at 2:01 amPermalinkReply

    THANK YOU! this was the only info i could find on Roty, other than prices.

  2. Jesse Becker, MS27th May 2011 at 2:25 pmPermalinkReply

    It is really a pleasure to taste here. I’ve had difficulty getting an appointment in the past but was able to taste the 09s and 08s at the domaine with the American importer last January. Philippe and Madame Roty are both very hospitable. Agreed that the high-toast barrels can dominate the wines especially when young but they’re some of the most soulful wines in Gevrey. Marsannays are tremendous values IMO.

  3. Grace Looney30th May 2011 at 1:02 amPermalinkReply

    Had some Gevrey Chambertin from this Domaine yesterday and liked it a lot, glad to find so much info here. Would love to visit the domaine someday and taste the wines.

  4. Elliot Silber12th October 2011 at 6:04 pmPermalinkReply

    I think they are amongst the greatest Domains in Burgundy. When young they can appear oaky but the oak is balanced by the concentration in the wines. They only get better with age. They put on great complexity with time. Their wines compare to most other winemakers wines of the next higher appellation. Their village wines are certainly premier cru quality. The wines are often hard to find but are worth seeking out. My only complaint is that they take a very long time to mature. Their 99 Marsannay Ouzeloy was terrific in Sept, 2011! The 93 Charmes was still young and primary in early 2010.

  5. Tracy Robinson8th May 2012 at 1:22 pmPermalinkReply

    Hi i would dearly love to go visit Domaine Roty, but i am having difficulty finding an address or telephone number. Homepage doesn’t exist as far as i can see.
    Would be very grateful for any contact information.

    Thanks Tracy

    • billn8th May 2012 at 1:30 pmPermalinkReply

      Best I can do Tracy:
      Tel: +33 (0)3 80 34 38 97
      Fax: +33 (0)3 80 34 13 59
      24 r Marechal de Lattre de Tassigny
      21220 GEVREY CHAMBERTIN

      Fax (in my experience) is best – they mainly work in the cuverie/vines during the day, so don’t ‘pick-up’…

      [Edit: Added to Domaine profile above.]

  6. Michael West26th May 2012 at 3:02 pmPermalinkReply

    My exhaustive web search has yielded zero for an internet contact for this domaine. My wife and I would like to visit in September, and would like to pre-arrange an individual tour. Can someone please help with contact info? Thank you.

  7. Nancy Owen3rd October 2013 at 7:57 pmPermalinkReply

    Visited Roty for several years between 87 and the 92 while living in Germany and bought about 150 bottles of Gevrey Chambertin and Marsannay. I coveted each bottle until it was gone. I still have a bottle of his Marc de Bourgogne which he “reluctantly” autographed on the label. Great wine, and contrary to his reputation, he is a very gracious man as is the rest of the family.

  8. isaac applbaum20th April 2014 at 2:41 pmPermalinkReply

    any chance you still do kosher wines?

  9. Brian S.23rd January 2017 at 6:36 amPermalinkReply

    Enjoyed a ’00 “Les Fontenys” 1er Cru, after dumping a corked bottle of same. Still intense, young, powerful, floral, structured, and lengthy. Thanks for the tasting notes.

  10. David Willis25th February 2017 at 12:55 pmPermalinkReply

    I only visited Joseph Roty on one occassion. My wife was humouring me and we were wandering around Gevrey in the rain during harvest time. I was pointing out the Roty name plate and was very excited and rang the bell without an appointment. Joseph leaned out of the window and showing us the slippers he had on, explained he’d be down shortly. Two hours later Madame Roty was desparately trying to persuade him to join the lunch for the pickers. We had stories, jokes, passion, excitement – Joseph was bitten by Philippes dog when he discovered it in the barrel cellar – and were encouraged to sit on the new tractor which had just been bought. A case of garden produce secured (Gevrey La Brunelle) we left. It’s a visit I’ll never forget. Critics obviously had their issues with Joseph but we found him incredibly generous with his time. A great loss.

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