Domaine de Bila-Haut - Occultum Lapidem rouge 2016

Bettane & Desseauve

About the wine:

In addition to the two Rhône grape varieties (Syrah and Grenache), there’s Carignan—undoubtedly more Catalan in character! The sample presented was still in the final stages of aging, but it was already showing its full potential. One of the best values in all of Roussillon.

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:

Tasted two weeks before bottling, this 2016 Côtes de Roussillon Villages Latour de France Occultum Lapidem was in top form. Notes of blueberry and tar from the Syrah dominate, but they soften with the cherry notes contributed by the Grenache in this medium-bodied wine. Planted at an altitude of 350 meters, it displays remarkably silky and refined tannins, showing remarkable restraint for a wine produced during a hot, dry year. 

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

Jeb Dunnuck