No name is more closely associated with the greatness of the Rhone valley than M. Chapoutier.
The history of the Chapoutier family stretches back to the early nineteenth century when current owner Michel Chapoutier's great-, great-, great-grandfather Marius purchased an estate and some vineyards in the now famous village of Tain l'Hermitage in the Northern Rhône Valley. Marius Chapoutier made history in the region when he became the first grape grower there to vinify his own fruit. Marius had tasted wines other winemakers produced using his fruit and he realized that something was lost in translation, so to speak. He knew that he owned some of the best growing sites in the appellation and he believed -- rightly -- that the grapes grown in his vineyards could produce long-lived world-class wines. In a move unusual at the time, he decided that he should make the wine himself. Not only did the quality of the wines increase greatly, but this move provided the capital to expand the Chapoutiers' already legendary estate.
A visionary and pioneer in biodynamic winemaking, his restless energy and unconditional commitment to quality have produced tremendous success, with the most 90+ point ratings of all Rhône producers and 16 "100 point" rated wines.
15e
France » Cotes du Rhone
"The color if this wine is a bright golden yellow hue. The nose is intense and expressive. Aromas of apricot, fennel and floral scents (iris,
15aFrance » Cotes de Roussillon Villages
Jeb Dunnuck 92 "The 2017 Côtes du Roussillon Villages Les Vignes de Bila Haut reminds me of an impressive St Joseph (despite having lots of Grenache
55cFrance » Roussillon Villages Lesquerde
Wine Advocate 91-93 “The full-bodied 2017 Cotes du Roussillon Villages Lesquerde l'Esquerda is wonderfully lush, welcoming and supple. Loaded with black cherries and crushed stone, this
15bFrance » Cotes du Rhone
"Medium tannic, chokeberry jam notes, sour cherry, blackcurrant notes, light eucalyptus notes"
55cFrance » Cotes de Roussillon Villages
Jeb Dunnuck 93-95 “A big, rich, concentrated, unctuous effort that's not for those looking for lightweight aromas and flavors, the inky colored 2016 Côtes du Roussillon
15eFrance » Cotes du Roussillon
Wine Advocate 90 "Bila Haut's entry-level white is a super value. A blend of Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, Macabeu, Vermentino and Marsanne, the 2017 Côtes du Roussillon
Wine Enthusiast 89 "Salmon pink in hue, this fullbodied but crisply balanced Rosé offers pert redcherry and raspberry flavors accented with thyme and rosemary. Dry and
France » Roussillon Villages Lesquerde
Wine Advocate 94-96 "Sporting a deep purple—almost blue—color, the sensational 2016 Cotes du Roussillon Villages Lesquerde l'Esquerda has a northern Rhône-like minerality as well as notes
" Its colour: bright appearance, a straw yellow colour with golden and green highlights, bright appearance, open with white fruit, peach and ripe fruit aromas.
In the tradition of the Rhône valley’s great rosé wines, Chapoutier’s Belleruche Rosé is made from a blend of Grenache (roughly 75%), with smaller amounts
Wine Spectator 94 "Offers depth, length and character, with mouthfilling blackberry, raspberry and cherry fruit flavors supported by bright acidity. The long, minerally spine lets additional
Wine Advocate 94 "The 2012 Cotes du Roussillon Villages Latour de France Occultum Lapidem offers dark, mineral-laced aromas and flavors of smoked earth, licorice, wild herbs
France » Cotes de Roussillon Villages
Wine Advocate 94 “One of the more polished, sexy examples of the cuvee, the 2015 Côtes du Roussillon Villages Latour de France Occultum Lapidem checks in
Wine Advocate 95-97 " These Chapoutier wines are sometimes reviewed by my colleagues David Schildknect in his Languedoc-Roussillon report and Lisa Perrotti-Brown in her reviews of
" The vineyards of Crozes-Hermitage surround the great Hermitage Hill. Sometimes called a "down-sized Hermitage" La Petite Ruche" is all freshness and easy enjoyment from
"Michel Chapoutier says that one of the most difficult tasks of a vineyardist and winemaker is to make a serious, high-quality wine, yet have it
Wine Spectator 98 "Big, broad-shouldered version, with loam, tobacco, currant paste and hoisin sauce notes out oin front of the formidable tannin structure. Dark, loamy and
Robert Parker 94-97 "The 2007 St.-Joseph Les Granits blanc exhibits exotic notes of orange marmalade, tropical fruits, honeysuckle, and citrus, and a more earthy component than
Garnet red in color, this wine emits aromas of red fruits such as morello cherries and spices of licorice and grey pepper. In the mouth
Robert Parker 86 "Among the white wines, the 2007 Crozes-Hermitage La Petite Ruche exhibits notions of crushed rocks, pineapple, white currants, and quince in its medium-bodied,
Wine Advocate 91 "The 2012 Cotes du Roussillon Villages Les Vignes de Bila Haut is another smoking effort that will top anyone’s value list. A tank-aged
Wine Advocate 92 "The Bila-Haut 2008 Cotes du Roussillon Villages Latour de France Occultum Lapidem - as usual, a roughly two-to-one blend of Grenache and Syrah
Robert Parker 95 "The 2006 Ermitage Chante Alouette has the vintages aromatics, zesty underlying acidity that serves to buttress the enormous richness, and notes of liquified
Wine Advocate 91-92 "From Grenache, Carignan, and Syrah planted in a mixture of gneiss, schist, and chalk, and vinified half each in tank and barrel (demi-muids
Wine Advocate 94 "Imagining the sweetness and purity of diverse berry fruits found in the corresponding “L’Esquerda” bottling allied to the saline savor of the corresponding