2015 V.I.T, Cotes-du-Roussillon Villages Latour de France, Bila-Haut, Chapoutier
Having taken over the reins at Chapoutier in 1990, Michel Chapoutier, the eighth winemaking generation of the family and a titan of the Rhône and southern French vineyards, established the estate's first Roussillon vineyards at Bila-Haut in 2000. 20 years on and the wines have attained a huge following, won multiple awards, and are much loved year in, year out by many of the world's most respected wine critics. Despite this demand the estate remains modest in size with limited production and a focus on capturing the unique terrior of the individual plots in the Bila-Haut Domaine.
"The 2015 Domaine de Bila-Haut V.I.T. is sensational: "(60/40 Grenache and Syrah) offers a beautifully complex nose of cassis, black currants, damp earth (granite), chocolate and roasted meats. Rich, full-bodied, unctuous and about as sexy as they come, it has lots of sweet fruit, no hard edges and a big finish. Count me as a fan and it's a gorgeous wine to drink over the coming 7-8 years."
95pts, The Wine Advocate