Domaine des Pothiers - Côte Roannaise La Chapelle 2023
93/100
RVF
17/20
Jancis Robinson
1*Étoile
Hachette
“An exceptional Gamay Saint Romain, intensely appealing”
"A single-vineyard cuvée grown on 4 hectares of granitic (dacite) soil on a hilltop at an altitude of 520 meters, aged in wooden barrels. On the nose, finesse and expression centered on redcurrant, blackcurrant, and spices. On the palate, fullness, velvety texture, crisp fruit, silky and refined tannins, and a lovely, fresh finish. Delicious, and will age well for several more years.” (Le Guide Hachette 2026). (Wine shipped without a capsule)
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Eye
Ruby color with purple highlights
Nose
Aromas of crisp red berries and spicy notes
Palate
Concentrated and complex, with a beautiful, smooth texture and well-integrated, elegant tannins
Serve
At 16°C
Drink before
2034
Food and wine pairings
Pairs well with a rib of beef, pan-seared foie gras, guinea fowl, pot-au-feu, or Oussau-Iraty cheese...
Bettane & Desseauve
Rated estate (2026 guide) 3*Stars (High-quality production, setting the standard in its sector)
About the estate:
Romain Payre has become one of the leading advocates of Gamay from the Côte Roannaise, where he has been excelling for several vintages now on his 21-hectare estate. The flagship wine is best enjoyed for its youthful fruitiness. The Clos Du Puy and Intégrale wines, which are suitable for moderate aging, are made from vines over 80 years old. This is a highly recommended and reliable estate, regardless of the wine.
Guide Hachette des vins
Wine noted (guide 2026) 1*Star (Very successful wine)
Rated estate (2026 guide) Award-winning wines (This producer’s wines are regularly recognized by the guide)
About the wine:
A single-vineyard cuvée grown on 4 hectares of granitic (dacite) soil on a hilltop at an altitude of 520 meters, aged in wooden barrels. On the nose, finesse and expression centered on red currant, blackcurrant, and spices. On the palate, fullness and velvety texture, crisp fruit, silky and refined tannins, and a lovely, fresh finish. Delicious, and will age well for several more years.
About the estate:
Romain Paire, who has been working alongside his parents Georges and Denise since 2005, took over this long-established family estate in 2017. Founded in 1610 in the town of Villemontais, in the southern part of the appellation, the estate has been in the family for generations. Operated as a mixed farming and livestock operation (beef cattle), the estate—which comprises 23 hectares of vineyards—has been managed using organic and biodynamic methods since 2010. One of the (very) reliable choices in the Côte-Roannaise appellation.
RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France
Wine rated (2026 guide) 93/100
Rated estate (2026 guide) 1*Star (Up-and-coming stars or quality winemakers producing wines of a high standard—you won’t be disappointed when tasting the wines from these estates)
About the wine:
La Chapelle is the standout wine of the vintage, offering depth, peppery notes, and velvety tannins.
About the estate:
Georges Paire, who came from a family of farmers, began planting his vineyard in the 1970s. In 2005, his son Romain joined him, and planting continued; the winemaking facilities were modernized, and the estate transitioned to organic farming. Today, the estate maintains a small herd of Limousin cows. We appreciate these refined and authentic wines: a modern and dynamic embodiment of the appellation.
Jancis Robinson
Wine rated (2025 guide) 17/20
About the wine:
There is such a stark contrast in terms of sensation, quality, and intensity between the estate’s wine and this one that I nearly lost my balance. La Chapelle is a bit like opening an old, rusty gate and stepping into a secret garden—a garden overrun with roses that intertwine and bloom among old fruit trees covered in lichen. There are damson plums and wild strawberries, raspberries growing in the rocky crevices of collapsed stone walls. And amidst the fruit and the freshness of the earth and stone, there are spicy notes reminiscent of blueberries, oolong tea, cinnamon, and juniper berries. The tannins are infused with fruit and taste of rain, like rain on lichen-covered stones. It is a captivating beauty.