Domaine de Bila-Haut - Côtes du Roussillon Occultum Lapidem rouge 2019

Bettane & Desseauve

About wine:

Still that spicy tannin, a more interesting structure than VIT, more finesse and length, balance.

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

About wine:

Marked by aromas of crushed stone, asphalt, blueberry, and black olive, the 2019 Côtes du Roussillon Villages Latour de France Occultum Lapidem is a blend of 60% Syrah, 35% Grenache, and 5% Mourvèdre, all aged in concrete vats. It is medium-bodied to full-bodied, polished and smooth, with silky tannins—a good amount—and a long finish.

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.

Wine Spectator

James Suckling

About wine:

Dark plums, blackberries, roasted meat, black pepper, and notes of dried herbs and black olives. Medium-bodied with firm tannins. It remains fresh in the center with lots of character, the Syrah giving a boost in the mid-palate with a range of wild berries and spices. Made from biodynamically grown grapes. Ready to drink or cellar.

Jeb Dunnuck

About wine:

Plenty of smoky herbs, black fruits, gravelly earth, and chocolate notes emerge from the 2019, a rich, medium-bodied Roussillon full of character. Showing more violet and floral notes with time in the glass, it has an almost Saint-Joseph character that might just surprise in a blind tasting. Another beautiful vintage for this cuvée, it shines with its purity and elegance.