Rhône Valley, France
Clos de la Bonnette
This tiny estate in the Northern Rhône is an absolute revelation, producing distinctive single-varietal wines of remarkable finesse from its Condrieu and Côte-Rôtie vineyards.
Clos de la Bonnette is a small Condrieu estate situated on a lovely perch above the Rhône Valley, where the vines grow on painstakingly constructed dry-stone terraces dating back centuries. These parcels are originally believed to have produced wine in Roman times.
A labour of love in Condrieu
Husband-and-wife team Isabelle Guiller and Henri Montabonnet began cultivating fruit and vegetables in 1970. After acquiring the diminutive Domaine Clos de la Bonnette in 1992, they changed their certified-organic business to focus on winegrowing instead. Clos de la Bonnette was abandoned and became completely overgrown after the Second World War. The couple invested a great deal of time and effort in restoring the vineyard terraces and then planting new vines in 1999. It was a true labour of love. With this patch of land having been left untended for so long, and without any neighbouring holdings directly adjacent, Isabelle and Henri were fortunate to have a ready-made environment in which to practise organic viticulture.
New locations on the Côte-Rôtie
The estate acquired two new vineyards in the Côte-Rôtie appellation in 2016 and 2019. Son Antoine is responsible for vinifying the red wines, while the white wines are Isabelle’s domain. The Guiller-Montabonnet family have dedicated everything to producing standout wines of incredible purity and finesse.
Local artist Catherine Chinon designed the estate’s colourful, striking bottle labels.
Wines from this producer
France
Rhône Valley
Blessed with famous slopes like the Côte-Rôtie, France’s oldest wine region boasts an array of prestigious wines – some of the world’s most sought-after and expensive bottles on account of their longevity, ultra-premium quality and limited availability.
