Domaine de Bila-Haut - Côtes du Roussillon L'Esquerda 2018

Bettane & Desseauve

About the wine:

Firmly planted, it displays fine chewiness, black fruit (blackcurrant, blackberry, burlat cherry) and spicy notes. Its rustic nature makes it a perfect match for characterful dishes.

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

About the wine:

A blend of 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah, the 2018 Côtes du Roussillon Villages Lesquerde l'Esquerda looks potentially exceptional. Accents of crushed stone give this full-bodied red an impression of austerity, while notes of blueberry and cherry are bold and muscular, giving way to a long, mouthwatering finish.

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