M. Chapoutier Domaine de Bila-Haut Blanc

Description

M. Chapoutier Domaine de Bila-Haut Blanc is a white wine from the south of France. It is bottled as an AOP Côtes-du-Roussillon and is a blend of Grenache Blanc, Grenache Gris and Macabeu. This wine and the estate’s Bila-Haut Occultum Rouge are available to buy now at Fareham Wine Cellar.

Chapoutier: A Rhone Legend

Maison Chapoutier has grown into one of the largest and most recognisable producers of Rhone wines. The company dates back to 1808 when Michel Chapoutier’s distant ancestor, Polydor Chapoutier, bought a parcel of vines in the Rhone Valley. Today, Chapoutier has vineyards throughout the Rhône, from Côte Rôtie in the north to Luberon in the south, as well as overseas projects, such as Domaine Tournon in Victoria, Australia. Michel is committed to producing the finest wines while respecting the environment.

Biodynamic Practices

Chapoutier now owns the largest biodynamic vineyard in Europe. It is his conviction that “the complexity in a wine comes from the level of microbiological activity around the vine roots”. Soils throughout the Chapoutier estate never see pesticides or herbicides, floral growth amongst the vines is essential, and the natural cycles of the earth, sun and moon are also considered.

Domaine de Bila-Haut Estate

The Domaine de Bila-Haut Estate is located in the commune of Latour de France in Roussillon and was established by Michel Chapoutier in 2000. The estate’s vineyards are planted on contoured terraces with a variety of soils, including black and brown schist, gneiss, limestone, and chalk, which impart distinct qualities to the wines: ripeness from schist, minerality from gneiss, and structure from limestone.

The vineyards are situated between the sea and mountains, benefiting from a Mediterranean climate which is tempered by the cooling coastal Tramontane wind. The estate produces mainly red wines from Syrah, Grenache, and Carignan, as well as some white wines made from Grenache Blanc, Grenache Gris, Vermentino, Roussanne, Marsanne, and Macabeu. In 2010, the estate expanded to Lesquerde, a nearby village with steep, limestone cliffs and arid soils, further diversifying its terroir. The estate is recognised as producing some of the best wines in Roussillon.

M. Chapoutier Domaine de Bila-Haut Blanc Profile

Vineyards

The grapes for the M. Chapoutier Domaine de Bila-Haut Blanc come from vineyards planted on limestone, clay soils and gneiss in the Agly Valley and from other vineyards planted on granite soils located at a higher altitude of 500m and are therefore later ripening sites.

Winemaking

• The grapes are manually harvested in the cool early morning.
• An additional hand-sorting helps preserve aromas and ensure grapes arrive in the best condition.
• After pressing, the must is cold settled.
• Vinification is performed in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks.
• The wine is matured for a few months before release, retaining freshness and enhancing the minerality.

Wine Blend

• 70% Grenache Blanc
• 20% Grenache Gris
• 10% Macabeu