The northern Rhône's most prestigious appellation producing the world's most refined and age-worthy Syrah from impossibly steep granite slopes above Ampuis, south of Lyon. The 'Côte Brune' and 'Côte Blonde' sub-zones — named for the hair color of two medieval sisters — produce distinct styles: Côte Brune's iron-rich schist creates darker, more tannic wines while Côte Blonde's lighter granite produces more floral, aromatic Syrah. Up to 20% Viognier may be co-fermented.
| Year | Rating | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | — | Outstanding Côte Rôtie vintage; Syrah from the granite Côte Blonde showed extraordinary floral intensity; Côte Brune produced wines of exceptional dark power. |
| 2021 | — | Classic northern Rhône vintage; cooler conditions produced elegant, aromatic Syrah with violet and olive complexity. |
| 2020 | — | Benchmark year; Guigal La Mouline and Rostaing produced internationally acclaimed wines of legendary structure. |
| 2019 | — | Greatest Côte Rôtie vintage of the modern era; La Mouline and La Landonne achieved mythological status among collectors. |
| 2018 | — | Excellent vintage; the heat ripened Syrah of extraordinary concentration balanced by the granite's natural freshness. |