Domaine Champet
Overview
Domaine Champet is a small, artisan Côte-Rôtie producer based in Ampuis, now run by brothers Maxime and Romain Champet. The family’s primary holdings are in the outstanding lieu-dits of la Viallière on the Côte Brune side. Their regular bottling, “la Viallière,” is produced from their full range of vines there; their prestige cuvée “les Fils à Jo” comes from old vines (50+ years) in a particularly stony section of la Viallière and is named for the brothers’ fathers. Gilman describes the wines as “utterly stellar” and they are made in a traditional style with older Burgundy casks.
Appellations
Key Wines
- Côte-Rôtie “la Viallière” — the estate bottling from la Viallière lieu-dits
- Côte-Rôtie “les Fils à Jo” — old vine prestige cuvée; 50+ year old Syrah in stoniest section of la Viallière; raised in older Burgundy casks
Style Notes
Classically structured Côte-Rôtie with Côte Brune weight and depth. The “les Fils à Jo” is consistently one of Gilman’s highest-rated wines in the appellation — dark, sappy, iron-infused, with extraordinary longevity. The wines come in at old-school alcohol levels (12.5–13%) even in warm vintages, suggesting vine stress management and restraint.
Tasting Notes (from VFTC #119)
- 2023 “la Viallière”: 12.5%; rated 93. Still reductive; needs time. “Going to be an absolute classic in the fullness of time.” Drinking window: 2040–2085+.
- 2022 “les Fils à Jo”: 12.5%; rated 94. “Stellar in 2022.” Dark, sappy; needs extended hibernation. Drinking window: 2042–2090.
- 2021 “les Fils à Jo”: Rated 94. More aromatic development than 2022; more classical profile; “outstanding young wine.” Drinking window: 2038–2085+.
My Tastings
(none yet)
Sources
- 119 — Annual Rhône Report (John Gilman, October 2025)