M. Chapoutier - Les Vignes de Bila-Haut rouge 2018

Bettane & Desseauve

About the wine:

Juicy, tight, tannic, the whole lacks freshness but is round and delicious. A pleasurable red with notes of dark fruit, spices and dark chocolate.

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, offering good value for money.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

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.

Wine Spectator

Jeb Dunnuck