M. Chapoutier - Saint-Joseph Les Granilites rouge 2022

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

Michel Chapoutier is now ably supported by his children, Mathilde and Maxime, in running the largest wine house in the Northern Rhône, a historic specialist in Hermitage and Crozes-Hermitage. Chapoutier is, on the one hand, a major wine merchant, but also produces top-tier estate wines, with the estate’s vineyards having long been cultivated using biodynamic methods. The single-vineyard selections, the top of the range, perfectly reflect the owner’s philosophy: single-vineyard, single-varietal, and produced annually, they are above all a reflection of the terroir, in its best aspects as well as, at times, its excesses.

Decanter

About the wine:

Alluring fruity aromas with a bold hint of oak, which adds a touch of complexity. A hint of meat also enhances the savory blackberry flavors. On the palate, light to medium-bodied, it reveals a balsamic note. The tannins are quite generous but relatively fine for this vintage, which can be quite robust. This wine will benefit from decanting. Only 25% was aged in barrels, with fermentation using natural yeasts.

Guide Hachette des vins

About the estate:

This venerable (19th-century) and leading winery, propelled onto the international stage by Michel Chapoutier in the 1990s, offers a wide range of wines produced from its own vineyards (345 hectares, cultivated biodynamically) or from purchased grapes, across most of the Rhône Valley’s flagship appellations, as well as in Roussillon and Alsace. His children, Mathilde and Maxime, have recently joined the family business.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the estate:

Under the Maison M. Chapoutier label, we feature wines from the wine merchant division of this two-century-old institution based in Tain-l'Hermitage. Michel Chapoutier, now joined by his daughter Mathilde, offers a very wide range of Rhône appellations here, with a production volume approaching one million bottles. But the Chapoutier name is also present in other regions (Champagne, Alsace, Languedoc, and even Australia), a testament to this family’s dynamism. While some vintages are compelling, others, on the other hand, are far more run-of-the-mill. This inconsistency leads us to remove the star from the house this year.

Jancis Robinson

About the wine:

The nose is very inviting, with rich notes of prunes and dark fruit. The palate is firm, with pronounced, crisp tannins and earthy, iron-like notes. Licorice and spices are present, and the wine feels quite structured at the moment. It will take time for these fierce tannins to mellow, but there is an attractive, full-bodied core beneath them.

James Suckling

About the wine:

If you’d like to discover Syrah from the Northern Rhône, this is the perfect introduction to the dark, smoky character of these wines and their fantastic wild blackberry fruit. The mineral tannins and acidity are thrilling on the palate, which is very concentrated and stony. So energetic and fresh for such a hot, dry vintage. A very long, pure finish. Made from organically grown grapes. Enjoy now or cellars.

Jeb Dunnuck