# Domaine des Côtes Rousses Mondeuse Coteau de la Mort (2020)

- **Producer:** Domaine des Côtes Rousses
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Mondeuse Noire
- **Region:** Savoie, France
- **Style:** Natural
- **Alcohol:** 11.0%
- **Average price:** €40
- **Vegan:** Yes
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 14–16 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** cherry, blackberry, black pepper, mint

## About this wine

Domaine des Côtes Rousses was founded in 2013 by Nicolas Ferrand in Saint-Jean-de-la-Porte, Savoie. The domain name reflects the iron-rich red clay soils of the steep hillside. The lieu-dit Coteau de la Mort (Hill of Death) features steep 40-45% inclines originally cultivated by Benedictine monks in the 11th century. Abandoned in the 1930s due to challenging topography, the site was replanted in 1999 and is today cultivated using certified organic and biodynamic practices.

## Interesting facts

- The vineyard name Coteau de la Mort (Hill of Death) refers to its dangerous 40-45% slope gradients.
- Originally cultivated by Benedictine monks in the 11th century, the site lay abandoned from the 1930s until 1999.
- Vineyard care includes winter sheep grazing, horse ploughing, and herbal tea sprays instead of chemical treatments.

## Food pairing

The wine high alpine acidity and structured, fine-grained tannins cut through rich mountain meats, game, and aged alpine cheeses while complementing herbal notes.

## Wine making process

Harvesting is performed entirely by hand on the extreme slope. Vinification involves 100% whole-bunch fermentation using native yeasts in concrete tanks with semi-carbonic maceration. Maceration lasts roughly 14 days without mechanical punch-downs or pump-overs to ensure delicate extraction. The wine ages for 10 months in neutral demi-muids and sandstone amphoras before being bottled unfined and unfiltered with minimal sulfur.