French (but non-Rhone) Tasting with Michel Chapoutier

Michel Chapoutier is always engaging and entertaining, besides being a wealth of honest knowledge of wine from basically everywhere. Including the differences between Protestant and Catholic wines. Also Protestant vs Catholic cheese, while we were on the topic. We tasted through selections from his properties in Loire and Roussillon.

• 2011 Schieferkopf Par Michel Chapoutier Sylvaner

  France, Alsace

  Tasting. Meyer lemon and lemon peel aromas and flavors. Good concentration for an entry level wine, even if there are a few rough edges. Good length, slightly bitter finish for now. Very good value wine.

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• 2011 Schieferkopf Par Michel Chapoutier Riesling

  France, Alsace

  Tasting. Ripe apple and pear with some faint nutty hint. Good weight, slightly heavy on palate. Good minerality but textures are just ok on average. Didn't come across as classically Riesling to me today.

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• 2010 Schieferkopf Par Michel Chapoutier Riesling Lieu-dit Fels 90 Points

  France, Alsace

  Tasting. Definitely my favorite wine from the lineup today. Summer flowers, rich lemon and lemon peel aromas. Similar flavors, slightly auster right now. Impressive mineral-driven character with best perceived acidity of the group. Intensity associated with shallow topsoil really comes through nicely.

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• 2010 Schieferkopf Par Michel Chapoutier Riesling Lieu-dit Buehl

  France, Alsace

  Tasting. Rich and intense fruit, slightly softer and rounder character with a faint perception of sweetness. Ok.

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• 2011 Schieferkopf Par Michel Chapoutier Gewurztraminer

  France, Alsace

  Tasting. Lighter styled Gewurztraminer. Moderate intensity and fruit. Slightly sweet from a "stuck" fermentation that worked out to the wine's benefit.

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I didn't exactly follow, but the VIT, RI and OL from the last three wines somewhat relate to the concept of VITRIOL and Freemasonry.

• 2012 M. Chapoutier Côtes du Roussillon Les Vignes de Bila-Haut Blanc

  France, Languedoc Roussillon, Roussillon, Côtes du Roussillon

  Tasting. An intriguing blend that together brings fat and fleshy grapes together with lean and acidic grapes into a nicely balanced, fresh wine. Nothing complex but a very good value for everyday drinking in the next few years. White and gray Grenache plus Maccabéo according to Michel.

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• 2012 M. Chapoutier Côtes du Roussillon Villages Les Vignes de Bila-Haut

  France, Languedoc Roussillon, Roussillon, Côtes du Roussillon Villages

  Tasting. Mostly grenache with a little Syrah and Carignan. All black fruit, slightly sweet. Firm tannins with good textures make me think this should improve with time, but the very forward fruit character made me slightly confused regarding where this will go.

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• 2012 M. Chapoutier Domaine de Bila-Haut Occultum Lapidem

  France, Languedoc Roussillon, Roussillon, Côtes du Roussillon Villages Latour

  Tasting. Overly firm. Ok fruit. Person next to me wondered if this was corked, I just thought this an interesting but eccentric wine.

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• 2009 M. Chapoutier Côtes du Roussillon Villages Domaine de Bila-Haut L'Esquerda R.I. rectificando invenies 90 Points

  France, Languedoc Roussillon, Roussillon, Côtes du Roussillon Villages

  Tasting. My favorite of this lineup. Intense blackberry aromas with some jammy hints and summer flowers, great spice. Same fruit and spice flavors with power, good length. Good now, also ageworthy.

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• 2008 M. Chapoutier Côtes du Roussillon Villages Latour Dom de Bila-Haut V.I.T Visitare Interiore Terrae

  France, Languedoc Roussillon, Roussillon, Côtes du Roussillon Villages Latour

  Tasting. Blackberry and black cherry aromas with spice hints. Firm and well structured on palate with similar flavor profiles, slightyl backward. Needs time.

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