Domaine de Bila-Haut - Occultum Lapidem rouge 2014 (Magnum)
Roussillon
Red
Sold individually
Drink or Keep
92/100
Robert Parker
-
15/20
RVF
"Another sublime vintage for this cuvée, Côtes du Roussillon Villages Occultum Lapidem, predominantly Syrah-Grenache, was harvested between September 12 and October 3 with tiny yields of 28hl/ha. Fully de-stemmed and aged in concrete vats, its opaque ruby color is followed by complex notes of garrigue, leather, plum and violet. Medium- to full-bodied, elegant and structured, with a beautiful texture, this fruity, well-balanced Roussillon is already hard to resist, but will appreciate over the next 6-7 years." (Wine Advocate 2016 - Robert Parker)
Features
Estate
Domaine Bila-Haut
Cuvée
Occultum Lapidem (Magnum)
Vintage
2014
Designation
Côtes du Roussillon Villages Latour de France
Region
Roussillon
Grape varieties
Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre
Terroirs
soils of gneiss, Devonian schist and Kimmeridgian limestone
Viticulture
traditional and meticulous
Harvest
manual
Winemaking
extraction only by punching down during a long maceration of at least 4 weeks
Breeding
approximately half in vats and half in barrels, depending on the year
Alcohol content
14 %
Tasting & pairing
Eye
beautiful garnet-red colour
Nose
Initially reserved with graphite and leather, then intense with notes of pepper, black fruit and garrigue.
Mouth
Rich, dense attack. Fleshy, sunny, with a long, sappy finish, served by fine tannins and lovely freshness.
Serve
at 14-16°C
Open
1 hour before
Drink from
2016
Drink before
2027
Food and wine pairing
enjoy with game, a fine piece of beef, a Catalan-style saddle of lamb...
Domaine Bila-Haut
Côtes du Roussillon
Expert opinion
Bettane & Desseauve
Domaine rated 2*Stars (A serious and recommendable production, but a little more regular and homogeneous than the previous one)
About the domain :
Michel Chapoutier, a prolific figure in the Rhône Valley wine world, has invested heavily in his Latour de France estate (with over 100 hectares of vines, extending into other villages such as Lesquerde, and a few parcels on the Côte Vermeille). As perfectionist as ever, his wines are affordable and offer good value for money.
Robert Parker - Wine Advocate
Rated (2016 guide) 92/100 (Outstanding wine)
Domaine noté Recommended (Wine producer recommended by Robert Parker - The Wine Advocate)
About the wine:
A little hard to decipher at this point, with some hints of reduction (which can be a good sign), Occultum Lapidem 2014 shows extraordinary purity and freshness, all in a bouquet of black raspberries, blackberries, pepper and minerals. Full-bodied, elegant and fresh, with lovely tension and tannic grip on the finish, this is another superb vintage for this cuvée.
About the domain :
Michel Chapoutier's outpost in the Roussillon is a worthy extension of his operations in the Rhône Valley. The emphasis is on the same varieties - Grenache and Syrah, in varying proportions according to terroir - and the overall quality is very good, with the parcel selections particularly notable for their excellence and limited production volumes. "My opinion is that Roussillon is like the Northern Rhône in Languedoc-Roussillon," said Chapoutier at our February tasting in the small village of Latour-de-France. He and the rest of his team are very optimistic about the prospects for 2017 and 2018, which they describe as excellent vintages. It's worth noting that while Chapoutier mainly produces dry wines in Roussillon, he hasn't abandoned traditional styles.
RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France
Wine rated (2016 guide) 15/20 (Good wine)
About the wine:
Occultum Lapidem Spicy and nervous, supported by fairly thick tannins, but remains well-balanced.
Wine Spectator
Domaine Rated Recommended (Wine Spectator recommended wine producer)
Jeb Dunnuck
Recommended area
Customer reviews
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