Parpette et Fils (Cédric Parpette)
Overview
A grassroots Côte-Rôtie domaine that forms the bedrock of the French wine panorama. Cédric Parpette (born 1973) was the son-in-law of previous domaine chief René Fernandez and took over in 2003, having been a mechanic beforehand. Tragically, Cédric died in December 2022 after a gastric operation went wrong. The domaine has grown from 3+ hectares to 5 hectares of Côte-Rôtie, plus 1.5 ha of Côtes du Rhône and 0.75 ha across the Rhône at Vienne.
Elder son Romain (born 1996, BTS at Montpellier) and younger son Maxime (born 1998, studies at Belleville) are now running the domaine.
Appellations
- Côte-Rôtie
- Condrieu
- Côtes du Rhône
- IGP Collines Rhodaniennes
Key Wines
- Le Plomb (Côte-Rôtie) — more tenacious and dark than the Montmain, regularly hits 4 to 4-5 stars. The Le Plomb crop was sold to Chapoutier until 2013, when it was first issued as a domaine wine
- Montmain (Côte-Rôtie) — the other main bottling. Some sold to Ferraton
- Delta (Côte-Rôtie) — introduced from the 2022 vintage, effectively an hommage to Cédric. He made two casks from the middle part of the Montmain vineyard and told the boys nothing about it — they “discovered” it after his death. Receives two years’ raising
- Condrieu Piaton — from a 2008 Viognier plot acquired via vineyard swap with Christophe Blanc. Soft and authentic
- Côtes du Rhône Berthelon (red and white) — from the good high site of Berthelon just outside the appellation
- Vicinus (IGP Syrah) — from 0.75 ha above La Gare de Vienne, ex-cow grazing lands planted in 2020; named from Latin for “neighbour”
Half is bottled, half sold in bulk/crop form — this will lessen under the two boys.
Style Notes
Direct, bustling, and genuine. No fancy tricks — Cédric’s manner was gruff but his intentions good. The wines are honest expressions of their terroirs. Le Plomb is the darker, more structured bottling while Montmain is more approachable. The Delta cuvée is a poignant testament to Cédric’s quiet craftsmanship.
My Tastings
Sources
sources/articles/JLL/Cedric_Parpette.txt— JLL / drinkRhone.com producer profile