Saint Etienne Les Abelhas 2024

Domaine Saint Etienne sits in the heart of the Rhône Valley and has been making wine for over a century, working with Michel Chapoutier. This organic white is a varietal Roussanne from AOC Côtes du Rhône, a grape prized in the Rhône for its perfume and weight. The warm, dry southern Rhône climate ripens Roussanne fully, which is why the wine reaches 15 percent alcohol and carries ripe stone fruit, while the region's stony soils drain freely and concentrate the fruit. The wine is aged on its lees, and this extended lees contact is central to the style. As the spent yeast cells break down they release compounds that build a broad, textured palate and guard the wine against oxidation, adding a savoury, faintly nutty layer that suits Roussanne's naturally low acidity. The colour is deep straw gold. The nose is aromatic, with apricot, white peach, honey and white flowers over beeswax and chamomile. The palate is full and rounded, with a waxy, saline texture and a long, gently honeyed finish. Serve at 11 to 12 degrees.