Burgundy is full of artisans, but to many Joseph Roty was one of the best. After his health began to deteriorate the domaine passed into the capable hands of his son Philippe, a very able winemaker in his own right who has continued to make wines in the tradition of his father.
It was Joseph who turned Domaine Roty into a superstar, crafting rich and sensual wines from some of the oldest vines in the Côte d’Or. He was as renowned for his abrasive personality as he is for his wines, and famously fell out with Clive Coates MW after chain smoking throughout a tasting at the domaine. When Coates asked if Roty wouldn’t mind smoking somewhere else he was banished from the cellar and told never to return!
