M. Chapoutier Bila Haut Banyuls 50cl

Chapoutier, or Maison M. Chapoutier, is a winery and négociant business situated in Tain-l'Hermitage in the Rhône region in France. Chapoutier produces wine from appellations across the Rhône region, but it is typically their top Hermitage wines, both red and white, that receive the most attention and accolades.

Spread out on steep, narrow terraces, the Banyuls appellation overhangs the Mediterranean Sea. More than two thousand years old, the vineyards are still hand-worked, and are rooted in stony schist soils. M. Chapoutier Banyuls is a “vin doux naturel,” fortified wine that is exceptional and age-worthy. It is naturally sweet, shows full fruit and wonderful character and is universally perfect with fruit and/or chocolate desserts.

Vineyards

Terraced vineyards on old mica-schist from the Primary era.

Vinification

The crop is hand-harvested when grapes are very ripe. The grapes are destemmed and crushed. The maceration is long with an addition of alcohol to favour the extraction of aromas and tannins. The wine is aged for 8 months in vat in a reductive environment. After bottling, and before its release for sale, the wine undergoes another 3 months’ ageing.

Tasting Notes

Powerful nose, shifting between black fruit and red berries, giving it a lovely freshness, subtly complemented by notes of cocoa. On the palate there is sumptuous balance between the solar strength of the wine and the fineness of its tannins. It has a great persistency with sweetness which develops greedily.