M. Chapoutier 'Bila-Haut' Cotes du Roussillon 2013

Wine advocate 91
The 2013 Cotes du Roussillon Villages Les Vignes de Bila Haut offers a deep, rich and layered profile that has outstanding potential. Comprised of mostly Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre, with a splash of Carignan, it's loaded with notions of black olive, pepper, earth and assorted dark fruits. This gives way to a medium-bodied, fresh and elegant palate feel that carries solid concentration, good acidity and a clean, dry finish. It will drink well on release and have 5-7 years of evolution.

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.