Domaine de Bila-Haut - Côtes du Roussillon Occultum Lapidem rouge 2022

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 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

About the wine:

Magnificent, with just the right touch of modernity and a finely expressed terroir, the 2022 Côtes du Roussillon Villages Latour de France Occultum Lapidem offers delightful notes of candied cherry, aromas of perfectly ripe fruit, and a lovely juiciness. It displays a straightforward character, with refined tannins and great freshness. Very elegant and balanced, this blend of Syrah, Carignan, and Grenache Noir is a lively, mineral, and nuanced red wine, endowed with a pure and vertical structure. Superb. Best enjoyed between 2025 and 2035.