Maison M.Chapoutier
About Maison M.Chapoutier
Established in 1808, M. Chapoutier is one of the oldest producers in the Rhône Valley. But its current worldwide fame - and the quality of its wines today - can be credited to the arrival of Michel Chapoutier in 1990. His willingness to change established practices - plus his determination to reflect the full potential of individual terroirs - has cemented his reputation as one of the greatest winemakers in the world.
The seventh-generation bearing the Chapoutier name to craft wines within the Rhône, it is reasonable to say that Michel Chapoutier is one of the most important figures not only within his native region, but the whole of France given his impact on the world’s fine wine scene.
Travelling extensively throughout both the Old and New wine producing worlds in his youth, Michel returned to the Northern Rhône with both vigorous passion for his craft as well as extensive knowledge gathered from hundreds of traditional and revolutionary vignerons from around the globe. The most important, lasting lesson learnt was the importance of terroir and the expression of nature’s nuances – a principle clearly evident throughout the modern Chapoutier offerings.
Setting about purchasing shares in his family company until he possessed a managing control, the first act of this masterful figure at the helm of Chapoutier was a revolutionary conversion of the entire estate to biodynamic principles in order to respect and encourage the terroir. An unprecedented move considered to be extraordinarily risky at the time, today many of its peers are merely playing catch-up to this imperious producer at the very height of its powers.
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Vinous (91)
Bright red-ruby. Brooding aromas of plum, gunflint, hot stones, mint, nuts, charcoal and woodsmoke. Rich, dense, silky and very ripe; a wonderfully fleshy Crozes that really spreads out to coat the palate. As round, sweet and plush as this rather massive wine is, it's still youthfully unevolved. Finishes long and aromatic, with big, tongue-dusting tannins and hints of espresso and nutty oak.Inc. GSTSG$991.46 -
Vinous (92)
Vivid ruby. Highly aromatic cherry and red berry scents are complicated by licorice, Indian spices and cola. Deeply concentrated dark fruit flavors show a suave blend of sweet and tangy, with a mineral nuance adding lift. Gains weight and sweetness on the clinging finish, which features a cherry-cola quality and fine-grained tannins that come on late.Inc. GSTSG$789.68 -
Jeb Dunnuck (97-99)
Not yet bottled, the 2019 Crozes-Ermitage Les Varonniers comes from the Varogne lieu-dit located just to the west of Hermitage. This is a cooler, more shaded vineyard of pure granite soils, and I always find an Hermitage-like character in this wine. Lots of blackberry, cassis, crushed stone, leather, and violet notes emerge from the glass, and it's rich, full-bodied, and powerful on the palate, with lots of structure yet more than enough fruit. The quality of this cuvée has soared recently and the 2019 will be another gem readers will love.Inc. GSTSG$601.05 -
Jancis Robinson (16.5)
An appealing nose that shows vivid and expressive dark fruits. An olive-tapenade note as well as fig spice and slight bacon fat beneath. Lots of freshness here as well. Bizarrely the nose is rich and ripe and the palate is not showing as much alcohol as you would expect. Expressive. (AC)Inc. GSTSG$428.81
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Vinous (91)
Bright red-ruby. Brooding aromas of plum, gunflint, hot stones, mint, nuts, charcoal and woodsmoke. Rich, dense, silky and very ripe; a wonderfully fleshy Crozes that really spreads out to coat the palate. As round, sweet and plush as this rather massive wine is, it's still youthfully unevolved. Finishes long and aromatic, with big, tongue-dusting tannins and hints of espresso and nutty oak.In BondSG$870.00 -
Vinous (92)
Vivid ruby. Highly aromatic cherry and red berry scents are complicated by licorice, Indian spices and cola. Deeply concentrated dark fruit flavors show a suave blend of sweet and tangy, with a mineral nuance adding lift. Gains weight and sweetness on the clinging finish, which features a cherry-cola quality and fine-grained tannins that come on late.In BondSG$673.00 -
Jeb Dunnuck (97-99)
Not yet bottled, the 2019 Crozes-Ermitage Les Varonniers comes from the Varogne lieu-dit located just to the west of Hermitage. This is a cooler, more shaded vineyard of pure granite soils, and I always find an Hermitage-like character in this wine. Lots of blackberry, cassis, crushed stone, leather, and violet notes emerge from the glass, and it's rich, full-bodied, and powerful on the palate, with lots of structure yet more than enough fruit. The quality of this cuvée has soared recently and the 2019 will be another gem readers will love.In BondSG$494.00 -
Jancis Robinson (16.5)
An appealing nose that shows vivid and expressive dark fruits. An olive-tapenade note as well as fig spice and slight bacon fat beneath. Lots of freshness here as well. Bizarrely the nose is rich and ripe and the palate is not showing as much alcohol as you would expect. Expressive. (AC)In BondSG$334.00