Pierre Bénetière's Dolium barely exists. It isn't made every year, and even when it is made, it's not possible to produce more than 50 cases. His vines in Côte Brune adjoin those of Guigal's La Turque and are every bit the equal of Guigal's. Pierre told us that Marcel Guigal frequently calls to remind him he'd like to be first on his list if he were ever to want to sell his vines. Pierre always responds graciously and requests the same courtesy in return.

For Pierre, Dolium is not about scarcity and prestige. It's about expression of a great terroir. In his own words, he makes Côte Rôtie “in the way Pére Jasmin and Marius Gentaz did.“ John Livingston-Learmonth calls Dolium a “serious wine of real class.“ It vies with Pierre Rostaing's Côte Brune and Côte Blonde cuvées for the best wine in all of Côte-Rôtie.