Domaine de Bila-Haut - Côtes du Roussillon L'Esquerda 2018

Bettane & Desseauve

About the wine:

Well-structured, it offers a delicate mouthfeel, dark fruit (blackcurrant, blackberry, Burlat cherry), and spicy notes. Its rustic character makes it a perfect pairing for hearty dishes.

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:

A blend of 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah, the 2018 Côtes du Roussillon Villages Lesquerde l'Esquerda shows great potential. Hints of crushed stone lend this full-bodied red a sense of austerity, while the notes of blueberry and cherry are bold and robust, giving way to a long, enticing finish.

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 being particularly remarkable 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