Bila-Haut - V.I.T. Visitare Interiore Terrae 2018

Michel Chapoutier, a prominent and prolific figure in the Rhône Valley wine industry, has invested heavily in his estate in Latour de France (with more than 100 hectares of vineyards, extending into other villages such as Lesquerde, as well as a few plots on the Côte Vermeille). True to his reputation for perfectionism, he produces affordable wines that offer good value for the price.

Notes of espresso and grilled meat accentuate the blueberry aromas in the 2018 Côtes du Roussillon Villages Latour de France Visitare Interiore Terrae. It is full-bodied and impressive with its black fruit aromas, yet remains fresh, with a long finish punctuated by dusty tannins.

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 the Languedoc-Roussillon region,” 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.

Looking at the two flagship wines, the 2018 Côtes du Roussillon Villages Latour de France Visitare Interiore Terrae (VIT) is the wine with the highest proportion of Grenache (60% Grenache and 40% Syrah from the more calcareous soils around the village of Latour de France). Destemmed, vinified in concrete tanks, and aged 40% in used demi-muids, it offers a more pronounced ruby-purple hue accompanied by a spicy nose of red and black fruits, loamy earth, dried garrigue, pepper, and various floral nuances. Incredibly elegant, silky, and harmonious on the palate, it nonetheless offers magnificent fruity aromas and a lovely length. I’m impressed. Enjoy this exciting Roussillon over the next decade.