Domaine Bila-Haut - Chrysopée 2015

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

Michel Chapoutier, a prominent and prolific figure in the Rhône Valley wine industry, has invested heavily in his estate in Latour de France (which spans over 100 hectares of vineyards, extending into neighboring villages such as Lesquerde, as well as a few plots in the Côte Vermeille). True to his reputation for perfectionism, he produces affordable wines that offer excellent value for money.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the wine:

Reminiscent of a Saint-Péray with its vibrant saline minerality and aromas and flavors of buttery citrus, toasted nuts, and quince, the 2015 Collioure Chrysopée Blanc is wonderfully textured and boasts a juicy acidity.

About the estate:

Michel Chapoutier’s outpost in Roussillon is a worthy extension of his operations in the Rhône Valley. The focus is on the same grape varieties—Grenache and Syrah, in varying proportions depending on the terroir—and the overall quality is very good, with the single-vineyard selections particularly notable for their excellence and limited production volumes. "My view is that Roussillon is like the northern Rhône within Languedoc-Roussillon," Chapoutier said during our February tasting in the small village of Latour-de-France. He and the rest of his team are very optimistic about the prospects for the 2017 and 2018 vintages, which they describe as excellent. It should be noted that while Chapoutier primarily produces dry wines in Roussillon, he has not abandoned traditional styles.

Wine Spectator

Jancis Robinson

About the wine:

Full-bodied and spicy on the nose—it’s not lacking in alcohol but has a lovely length on the palate. A hint of pine and a nice texture. Certainly not heavy. There’s a sense of tension, even if the wine was a bit too tight at this stage of its development. A lot of emotion in the finish.

Jeb Dunnuck