Domaine Clusel-Roch is on the super-short list of Northern Rhône producers who consistently deliver some of the most gorgeously aromatic, cellar-worthy Côte-Rôties imaginable. 

Serious Northern Rhône collectors know that Clusel‑Roch isn’t a label you bury in the cellar as a commodity—it’s a domaine you open, savor, and return to year after year. Their Côte‑Rôties have long been SommSelect staff favorites because they deliver the perfume, finesse, and soulful detail that define the appellation, all without the inflated price tags that dominate the region today. For those who actually drink what they collect, “Les Schistes” is the bottle that never sticks around for long.

“Les Schistes” represents the beating heart of the domaine—drawn from the steep, iron‑rich slopes of the Côte Brune and crafted with the same meticulous, hands‑on approach that has defined the Clusel family for generations. The 2021 vintage leans into everything we love about this cuvée: lifted aromatics, tension, and that unmistakable crushed‑granite signature that only these schist terraces can produce.

What makes this release so compelling is its dual personality. With air, it’s immediately expressive—silky, layered, and beautifully fragrant—yet beneath the charm lies the structure and mineral backbone that will carry it effortlessly for a decade or more. Deep ruby in the glass, it lifts with violets, blackberry, plum skin, and cool peppery spice, unfolding into a medium‑plus–bodied palate of supple dark fruit, crushed granite, and fresh, fine tannins. It’s the kind of Côte‑Rôtie that seasoned Rhône buyers recognize instantly as one of the smartest values in the appellation. 

Santé!