Although not so well known here because of the lack of a regular U.S. importer, Christophe Billon is one of the most respected winemakers in Côte-Rotie. Indeed, the Compagnie de l'Hermitage -- the celebrated wine... Read More

Although not so well known here because of the lack of a regular U.S. importer, Christophe Billon is one of the most respected winemakers in Côte-Rotie. Indeed, the Compagnie de l'Hermitage -- the celebrated wine shop that worked closely with Raymond Trollat -- taps Billon to bottle Côte Rotie for them (which is probably why Billon's labels, depicted above, will be so familiar to anyone who's been fortunate enough to drink Trollat's wines).

Billon has not achieved his acclaim painlessly. When he took over his family’s land in 1986 he began cultivating a mere half-hectare and it took him ten years to complete. All the while he worked for Guigal in his nearby vineyards to make ends meet.

Billon’s vineyards are situated up in the heights of Ampuis and on steep slopes in a place called Côte Rozier. They overlook the billowing fog that flows underneath along the Rhodaniennes Hills and capture ideal diurnal variation. Billon farms these vines meticulously, getting the purest, most beautiful fruit you can imagine. The wines are gorgeous.