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 and Grenache—was harvested between September 12 and October 3 with extremely low yields of 28 hl/ha. Fully destemmed and aged in concrete tanks, 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 subdued with notes of graphite and leather, then intense with hints of pepper, black fruit, and Mediterranean scrub
Palate
A rich, full-bodied attack. Full-bodied, sunny, with a long, juicy 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
Perfect with game, a nice cut of beef, or a Catalan-style saddle of lamb...
Bettane & Desseauve
Rated 2 stars (A solid, recommendable production, though slightly more conventional and uniform than the previous one)
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
Wine rated (2016 guide) 92/100 (Excellent wine)
Estate rated "Recommended" (Wine producer recommended by Robert Parker - The Wine Advocate)
About the wine:
A bit difficult to decipher at this stage, with some reductive notes (which can be a good sign), the 2014 Occultum Lapidem displays extraordinary purity and freshness, all wrapped up in a bouquet of black raspberries, blackberries, pepper, and minerals. Full-bodied, elegant, and fresh, with beautiful structure and a tannic grip on the finish, this is yet 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 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.
RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France
Wine rated (2016 guide) 15/20 (Good wine)
About the wine:
Spicy and lively, Occultum Lapidem is supported by fairly robust tannins yet remains well-balanced
Wine Spectator
Estate rated "Recommended" (Wine producer recommended by Wine Spectator)
Jeb Dunnuck
Rated: Recommended
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