Domaine de Bila-Haut - Occultum Lapidem rouge 2014 (Magnum)
92/100
Robert Parker
15/20
RVF
Another sublime vintage for this cuvée, the Côtes du Roussillon Villages Occultum Lapidem, predominantly Syrah-Grenache, was harvested between September 12 and October 3 with tiny yields of 28hl/ha. Fully destemmed and aged in concrete vats, its opaque ruby color is followed by complex notes of garrigue, leather, plum, and violet. Medium-bodied to full-bodied, elegant and structured, with a beautiful texture, this fruity and balanced Roussillon is already hard to resist, but will continue to improve over the next 6-7 years. (Wine Advocate 2016 - Robert Parker)
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Eye
beautiful garnet red dress
Nose
initially reserved with dominant notes of graphite and leather, then intense with notes of pepper, black fruit, and garrigue
Mouth
Rich and dense attack. Full-bodied, sunny, long, sappy finish, supported by fine tannins and lovely freshness.
Serve
at 14-16°C
Open
1 hour before
Drink from
2016
Drink before
2027
Food and wine pairings
Enjoy with game, a nice cut of beef, Catalan-style saddle of lamb...
Bettane & Desseauve
Winery rated 2 stars (A serious and recommendable production, but a little more consistent and uniform than the previous one)
About the estate:
Michel Chapoutier, a key and prolific figure in the Rhône Valley wine world, has invested heavily in his Latour de France estate (with over 100 hectares of vines, extending into other villages such as Lesquerde, and a few plots on the Côte Vermeille). True to form in his perfectionism, he offers affordable wines that are good value for money.
Robert Parker - Wine Advocate
Wine rating (2016 guide) 92/100 (Outstanding wine)
Rated Recommended (Wine producer recommended by Robert Parker - The Wine Advocate)
About wine:
A little difficult to decipher at this stage, with some reductive notes (which can be a good sign), Occultum Lapidem 2014 displays extraordinary purity and freshness, all in a bouquet of black raspberries, blackberries, pepper, and minerals. Full-bodied, elegant, and fresh, with beautiful tension and tannic grip on the finish, this is another superb vintage for this cuvée.
About the estate:
Michel Chapoutier's outpost in Roussillon is a worthy extension of his operations in the Rhône Valley. The emphasis is on the same varieties—Grenache and Syrah, in varying proportions depending on the terroir—and the overall quality is very good, with the single-vineyard selections being particularly noteworthy for their excellence and limited production volumes. "My opinion is that Roussillon is like the northern Rhône in 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 2017 and 2018, which they describe as excellent vintages. It should be noted that while Chapoutier mainly produces dry wines in Roussillon, he has not abandoned traditional styles.
RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France
Wine rated (2016 guide) 15/20 (Good wine)
About wine:
Occultum Lapidem is spicy and lively, supported by fairly thick tannins but remains balanced.
Wine Spectator
Rated Recommended (Wine producer recommended by Wine Spectator)
Jeb Dunnuck
Rated Recommended
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