M. Chapoutier : Les Granilites 2023

Characteristics and tasting notes of Les Granilites 2023 M. Chapoutier

Tasting

Colour
The colour reveals a deep garnet red hue, enhanced by vivid violet highlights.

Nose
The aromatic bouquet reveals intense notes of wild black berries, such as blackcurrant and blackberry. These are mingled with elegant mineral touches of graphite as well as a subtle, well-integrated oakiness.

Palate
The attack is smooth and harmonious. The palate is structured around fine, tight tannins, supported by a lovely mineral tension typical of its terroir. The finish is long and persistent, extending the black fruit flavours over a delicate mineral texture.

Food and wine pairing

This wine pairs perfectly with flavourful meats such as grilled rack of lamb with Provençal herbs, roast duck or small game. It also pairs very well with wild mushroom risotto, fish in tapenade sauce, or cheeses such as goat cheese, aged Comté or Tomme de Savoie.

Service and storage

The Les Granilites 2023 vintage can be enjoyed in its youth, but it will continue to develop its complexity in the bottle and can be enjoyed until around 2033.

Other characteristics

This wine has an alcohol content of 13% vol.

The mineral, authentic expression of a Saint-Joseph red wine

The estate

Founded in 1808 in Tain, the M. Chapoutier house is a landmark institution of the Rhône Valley. The estate's history took a major turn in 1990 when Michel Chapoutier brought an innovative vision by converting the vineyard to biodynamics. A pioneer and respectful of its environment, the estate is also distinguished by the inclusion of braille writing on all its labels. Today, it is his children, Mathilde and Maxime Chapoutier, who run the estate, upholding the family motto "Fac et Spera" through wines that express the purity of their terroirs.

The vineyard

The plots dedicated to this cuvée are located in the southern part of the Saint-Joseph appellation, in the historic communes of Charnas, Tournon and Mauves. The vines thrive on steep, southeast-facing slopes, made up of poor, well-drained granitic soils known as "granilites". The altitude, combined with the cooling influence of the mistral, allows for slow berry ripening, thus promoting freshness, tension and concentration in the grapes.

The vintage

This year's grapes were harvested by hand under dry, sunny weather conditions. More generally in the region, the summer period offered ideal weather, followed by a September that provided the necessary warmth for the berries to reach optimal ripeness before the harvest at the end of the month.

Winemaking and aging

The winemaking process for Les Granilites 2023 begins with destemming, followed by fermentation in small concrete vats using indigenous yeasts, with temperatures rigorously maintained below 28°C. Maceration lasts three to four weeks for gentle extraction. Malolactic fermentation then takes place in barrels. Aging lasts 14 to 16 months, with 80% in French oak barrels (10% new wood) and 20% in unlined concrete vats, in order to preserve the wine's brightness and mineral purity.

Grape variety

100% Syrah