Domaine de Bila-Haut - Côtes du Roussillon Occultum Lapidem rouge 2020

Bettane & Desseauve

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 50% Syrah, 45% Grenache, and 5% Mourvèdre that was still in concrete tanks when I tasted it, the 2020 Côtes du Roussillon Villages Latour de France Occultum Lapidem is peppery and spicy, with plenty of blueberries and blackcurrants. Medium-bodied to full-bodied, creamy and supple on the palate, with a long finish—could this wine be better than the impressive 2019?

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

About the wine:

The 2020 Côtes du Roussillon Villages Latour de France Occultum Lapidem, which has not yet been bottled, is more reserved and reductive at this stage, but it displays darker berries and promising blackcurrant fruit, along with notes of violet and peppery herbs. Medium-bodied to full-bodied on the palate, it offers good concentration and length, but it is its purity and balance that truly set it apart at this stage. A blend of 60% Syrah, 35% Grenache, and the remainder Mourvèdre, destemmed and aged in concrete, it will drink brilliantly upon release and can be enjoyed for at least 7 to 8 years.