M.Chapoutier, La Petite Ruche Rouge Crozes-Hermitage 2009

From the hillsides of the northern Rhône and one of the most famous names in all wine-making, this red won three top awards at last year's International Wine Challenge. It boasts huge summer fruit aromas and flavours, lots of peppery undertones, a touch of hillside herbs, yet is still fresh on the palate. Best with rosemary-and garlic-spiked roast lamb or a chicken cacciatore.

Terry Kirby, Independent on Sunday
January 2012

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M.Chapoutier, Côtes du Rhône Belleruche 2009

A ripe and gutsy style of Côtes du Rhône with rupe bramble fruit, a sprinkle of herbs and enough flavour to cope with New Year suppers.

Yorkshire Post
December 2011

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M.Chapoutier, Hermitage Monier de la Sizeranne 1996

An attractive hue, dusty but certainly not mature, claretty with a tinge of oxblood, and a pale rim. The nose has none of the off-putting chemical notes found last time, and given appropriate time in
the decanter it shows a gently expressive character, well reined in, with a very savoury flavour, with a little woody element in the background. There is none of the blackberry-bramble notes I enjoyed previously, this is all more tightly packed now, with a little game to it. There is a nice edge to it too, an unpretentious aromatic definition.

The palate is supple and polished, nicely structured behind the substance, fresh too. Quite rounded and mouth-filling, with a gently chalky backbone of tannins and nicely balanced acidity. It all comes across as well judged, and although not exploding with flavour it certainly has an appealing presence in the mouth. Good grippy length with bite; this will go some time in the cellar yet. Not a patch on so many other Chapoutier wines I have tasted this year though; it really does seem to me that the négoce wines really are several steps below the wines from Chapoutier's own vineyards. 16/20

Chris Kissack, Wine Doctor
December 2011

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M.Chapoutier, Selections Parcellaires

A worthy runner up to the tasting of wines from Château de Fesles has to be the tasting of wines from the Chapoutier Sélections Parcellaires range tasted back in June, before all the excitement of my visit (with its roller coaster ride through Les Greffieux and its helicopter attack on the hill of Hermitage) really kicked off. Having had limited exposure to Chapoutier's wines, usually focusing on the upper tier of the négoce wines, in particular the Hermitage La Sizeranne, it was an eye-opener to

perceive for the first time the quality offered by his very top wines from his own vineyards, not just from exalted appellations such as Hermitage, but also with other wines, especially his Les Granits cuvée from St Joseph.

Chris Kissack,  The Wine Doctor
December 2011

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M.Chapoutier, La Petite Ruche Rouge Crozes-Hermitage 2009

A brilliant cool-climate syrah, this is ripe and brooding with lovely blackberry and black cherry fruit, along with a peppery twist.

Jamie Goode, Sunday Express
December 2011

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Taste the Difference Saint Joseph

It is well-structured with rich berry fruit flavours and soft, velvety tannins.

Sainsbury’s Magazine
December 2011

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M.Chapoutier, Côtes du Rhône Belleruche 2009

This has lovely blackberry flavours, it’s smooth and mellow and will compliment almost any main course.

Amanda Johnston, Bishop’s Stortford Observer
December 2011

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Taste the Difference, Côtes du Rhône Villages

Oozes terrific, earthy, chocolatey spice.

Jane MacQuitty, The Times
November 2011

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M.Chapoutier, Chateauneuf-du-Pape Bernadine 2005

Christmas flavours of dried fruit, incense with a leathery aroma. Moreish, figgy and complex thanks to extra years of bottle age.

Fabulous Food
November 2011

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M.Chapoutier, La Petite Ruche Crozes-Hermitage 2009

A spectacular wine from the northern zone of the Rhône Valley. While reds from the Côtes du Rhône in the southern zone major on Grenache grapes, those from the northern appellation are made exclusively from Syrah, and have a very different style, exemplified in this dense, gamey, blackberry-essence block-buster from a fabled vintage, already drinking very nicely indeed but with years of evolution ahead of it.

Ned Halley, Western Morning News
November 2011

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M.Chapoutier, Ermitage, De l’Orée  2008

Michel Chapoutier's Rhône whites are just as good as his much more celebrated reds. This 50% new oak-aged pure Marsanne is perfumed, mealy and complex with notes of honeysuckle, toast and citrus peel and the concentration and focus to age in bottle. 94 points

Tim Atkin, www.timatkin.com
November 2011

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M.Chapoutier, Monier de la Sizeranne Hermitage 2007

The Rhône has much to offer oenophiles, including this hand-picked 100 per cent biodynamic Syrah form Hermitage. Rich, rounded, elegant, it’s soft yet spicy with ripe bramble fruit.

Jonathan Ray, GQ Magazine
November 2011

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M.Chapoutier, Crozes-Hermitage,
Les Meysonniers 2009

“Chapoutier makes some fab wines, and this is one of my favourites. The flavour complexity is fantastic: pepper, dried sausage, blackberry and mixed spices all intermingled on the palate. It’s forceful yet elegant, too, and has the potential to age for a decade. This is Syrah at its best.”

Richard Hemming, Sainsbury’s Magazine
1 October 2011

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M.Chapoutier, Monier de la Sizeranne 2007

Ripe, sweet, red fruits. Peppery and grippy with decent acidity.

Decanter
October 2011

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M.Chapoutier, Crozes-Hermitage,
Les Meysonniers 2007

“Hearty autumnal dishes such as lamb casserole, roast game or venison need a warm, complex trophy red like M.Chapoutier, Crozes-Hermitage Les Meysonniers (organic) 2007 from the Northern Rhône.”

Abergavenny Chronicle
8 September 2011

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M.Chapoutier, Crozes-Hermitage,
Les Meysonniers 2009

“This impressive Rhône red, from a great northern vintage, is made from 25-year-old syrah vines, vinified traditionally by the leading winemaker Michel Chapoutier. I adored its seductive, oaky, violet scent and bold, blackberry-charged palate that is drinking deliciously now but will happily go on maturing until 2015 or so.”

The Times
6 August 2011

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L'Ermite Blanc Ermitage 2008

An elegantly wrought backbone of granite mineral runs through the elaborately stratified 2008 L'Ermite Blanc Ermitage, supporting the wine's fleshy, almost oleaginous texture and tropical riot of honey, peach, fig, lemon blossom, vanilla, and piquant beeswax essences.

Brett Anderson, Robb Report
1 June 2011

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Les Meysonniers, Crozes-Hermitage 2006

Bright cherry and raspberry nose. Ripe, sleek and forward, but balanced and will keep.

Stephen Brook, Decanter
1 February 2011

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'Les Meysonniers 2007’ Croze-Hermitage, Northern Rhône

Good independents Organic northern Rhône Syrah with ripe, meaty, spicy flavours and fruit of 50-year-old vines.  Blackcurrant and violet on the nose. Warm and round with flavours of stewed fruits and vanilla. Try with gently spiced lamb or peppery chicken

Matthew Nugent, Irish Mail on Sunday
13 March 2011

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M.Chapoutier Banyuls

One wine that did stand out is the totally remarkable, intriguing and delicious M Chapoutier Banyls (£14.49). The vineyard used to produce this wine is over 2000 years old, still hand worked and totally organic. The grapes are Black Grenache and are left to reach perfect ripeness, before the winemaking begins with long maceration and fortification to cease fermentation and extract all those lovely tannins and aromas. The wine is powerful, partly due to the immense concentration in the grapes and partly due to fortification. However, the beautiful coffee and fruity aromas, along with the soft palate, will seduce whether alone or with a lover. This is one to take home.

Tom Nowell, North Cornwall Advertiser
1 February 2011

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Hermitage, Chante-Alouette 2007,

With wines ranging from less than a tenner to over £100 no-one can accuse Michel Chapoutier of being a one-trick pony. In fact, he has many specialities – one of which is Marsanne. The wines currently on offer really illustrate his many years of experience. The 2007 Chante-Alouette (Hermitage, £22.86) particularly caught Imbibe’s eye with its complex balance of tart apricots, peaches, quince and dessert pear. Partially barrel fermented and aged in cask for up to a year, it offers great food-friendly possibilities – everything from scallops throught to mildly-spices curries.

McWilliams, Imbibe
1 January 2011

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Crozes-Hermitages, Rhone 2009

It’s exactly what you’d want from a Crozes, mixing fresh acidity, black-pepper, rapberr y and savoury/meaty flavours into a seamless, textured whole

Observer.guardian.co.uk
13 February 2011

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Hermitage, Monier de la Sizeranne 2007

An easy sell. Rich and generous, it starts with squishy plum aromas, hints of graphite and spice. The palate is packed with more plums and a lick of spicy acidity. Michel Chapoutier recommends venison and woodcock with this wine.

Imbibe
1 January 2011

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Terlato & Chapoutier Shiraz-Viognier

This brilliant wine is made with French thinking in cool-climate Victoria in Australia.
It’s delicious (think juicy blueberries with a hint of spice and tantalising freshness),
beefy yet deft (like AC/DC meets Edith Piaf), and punchy yet elegant. A stunner.

Olly Smith, The Mail on Sunday
2 January 2011

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M. Chapoutier
Domaine Tournon Shiraz or Syrah 2008

‘Rhône giant Chapoutier lets you decide what to call this wine maybe it lies somewhere between the grape's two names? Dense and meaty, it has considerable power but not in a fruit-bomb way. It's all about violet berries, with complementing spice and medicinal nuances.’

Decanter
1 November 2010

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M. Chapoutier
Crozes-Hermitage Les Meysonniers 2007

‘Hearty autumnal dishes such as lamb casserole, roast game or venison need a warm, complex trophy red like M. Chapoutier, Crozes-Hermitage Les Meysonniers (organic) 2007 from the Northern Rhone. It’s a luscious mouthful of bramble berries with a streak of spice, subtle tannins and a super finish.’

Samantha Wylie Harris, Thirsty Work
16 September 2010

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M. Chapoutier, Monier de la Sizeranne 2007

‘Ripe red and black fruit notes and spicy leather on the nose. Good concentration with a pure and long finish.’

Decanter
1 October 2010

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M. Chapoutier
Côtes-du-Rhône, Belleruche Rouge 2008

‘A gutsier style of Côtes du Rhône with ripe bramble fruit, a sprinkle of herbs and enough flavour to cope with grilled sausages and steak.’

Christine Austin, Yorkshire Post Magazine
26 June 2010

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M. Chapoutier
Monier de la Sizeranne 2006

“An exuberantly typical wine with exotic garrigue, lavender and rosemary aromas. A complex palate with mouth-watering flavours, but not too heavy.”

2010 Gold List
Sommelier Wine Awards
Emily O'Hare, Imbibe UK
1 May 2010

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