Marie et Pierre Bénetière
Overview
Marie et Pierre Bénetière is a small estate in Côte-Rôtie, producing wines from the Landonne and Moulin-à-Vent lieu-dits of the Côte Brune, plus a Vin de France. The wines are biodynamic and natural, with no additions. Bénetière is one of the rising star names of Côte-Rôtie — extremely small production makes them collector items.
My Cellar
49 total bottles (0 recent) — large position, mostly pending delivery.
- Côte-Rôtie: 44 btls (27 pending), 2012–2019
- Vin de France: 3 btls, 2016
- Condrieu: 1 btl, 2009
27 bottles pending delivery — a significant investment in a still-ascending producer.
Style Notes
Very classical Côte-Rôtie: dark, perfumed, with the distinctive violet and iron of the Côte Brune. The wines are tight in youth and need 10–15 years. The natural approach adds a savory, wild complexity. Whole-bunch fermentations make Pierre “the darling of some hipsters” (JLL).
Producer Profile (JLL / drinkRhone.com)
True, terroir-expressive wines in the mould of their maker — Pierre is not fussed if the outside world struggles to contact him. He reduced his Condrieu holding to just 0.2 hectare, preferring to invest in Côte-Rôtie since 2013. He now works 1.5 hectares in the southern sector, with more to come as he clears and plants at Tupin.
Key wines:
- Cordeloux — the main Côte-Rôtie bottling from the southern sector
- Le Dolium — from 0.08 hectare on the Côte Brune
- Condrieu Le Riollement and L’Été Indien — from the remaining Condrieu holding
Whole-bunch fermentations are employed throughout.
Key Wines & Vintage Notes (JLL / drinkRhone.com)
Cote-Rotie Cordeloux
94-95% Syrah, 5-6% Viognier, mostly from Le Corps de Loup (southern sector). Whole bunch fermentation, 18-20 months in 228-litre oak (20% new). 4,000-5,000 bottles.
- 2017 — Spice, peppered red fruit, raspberry liqueur. “Cool wine, especially in the 2017 context of high heat.” Stems give energy. From 2021. Drink 2031-33.
- 2016 — “Winning style on the nose, mulberry and ripe raspberry.” Vibrant, good mineral clack on finish. Drink 2033-35.
- 2015 — “A neat nose! Suave, rolling on wheels with slinky gras and tannins that fit like a velvet glove.” Floral rose on aftertaste. Pierre: “It made itself on its own in 2015.” Drink 2037-39.
- 2013 — Soaked raspberries and cherries, noble Volatile Acidity. “Character, is no patsy.” Drink 2028-30.
- 2012 — “A pointilliste wine, like a Seurat painting, assembled dot by dot.” Very pure, fine acidity. STGT qualities. Drink 2023-25.
Cote-Rotie Le Dolium
1990-91 Syrah from Cote Brune, 0.08 ha. Aged 30-36 months in 350-litre casks. Only 300-466 bottles. Not made in 2014, 2008, 2004, 2002.
- 2017 — “STGT Brune. Iron and nerve of its place, real heart and sustained delivery. Authentic, proper good, grounded Cote-Rotie.” Pierre: “Extremely rustic, what I used to taste chez Pere Jasmin and Gentaz when I was young.” Drink 2036-38.
- 2015 — “Wild blackberry, rose musk. Iron of its place shines through thick content.” A little ahead of the 2015 Cordeloux. Drink 2039-41.
- 2012 — “Complex; its fruit is fine, and it is a serious wine of great class. Vive la Brune!” Drink 2032-33.
Condrieu
Viognier from Le Tinal and Le Riollement at Verin. Fermented in oak casks at 22-23 degrees C, raised 12-15 months.
- 2012 — Fresh, stone fruits, zesty citrus. “A good, crisp Condrieu.” Drink 2019-20.
- 2009 — STGT wine overall. “Great appeal, but a line of finesse also.” 7-year life.
Condrieu L’Ete Indien
Late-harvest Viognier, grapes picked up to 10 times from October to late November. Only made in select years (1999, 2000, 2006, 2009). 450 bottles of 50 cl.
- 2006 — “Good, rich wine with well judged botrytis.” 160 gm residual sugar. Drink to 2022-24.
My Tastings
Sources
- (Profile derived from CellarTracker data; mentioned as key Côte-Rôtie producer in context of
sources/articles/VFTC/VFTC Sept-Oct 2025 #119.txtRhône annual report) sources/articles/JLL/Marie_et_Pierre_Benetiere.txt— JLL / drinkRhone.com producer profilesources/articles/JLL/rhone_wines_data.json— JLL / drinkRhone.com wine-by-wine vintage notes