Saturday, April 3, 2010

Bila-Haut Cotes Du Roussillon Villages, 2008

Domaine Bila-Haut is owned by the famed M. Chapoutier. They own more than 400 acres of prime vineyards in the Rhone Valley area. This estate is located in the Cotes du Roussillon of Languedoc, which borders the Rhone Valley. Bila-Haut is an old vine estate that Chapoutier has planted with Grenache, Carignan and Syrah. This location is blessed with cool winters, hot summers, low rainfall and the local 'Mistral' (which is a drying breeze) to make a perfect climate for these varietals. All of the grapes for the Bila-Haut are hand picked in the vineyards. Michael Chapoutier takes pride in producing wines that have great character even at a value price-point. This lovely red wine has a deep, dark ruby color that is nearly opaque. On the nose is fresh blackberry and cherry with some earth. This is a big, rich wine with abundant black fruit, plum, currant, mocha and licorice. The mouth-feel is smooth and expansive with the bold fruit, creamy tannins, gentle acidity and subtle minerality. The finish is elegant and lingering. We really enjoyed this wine! This wine will pair well with roasted or grilled meats or any flavorful cheese. We purchase this 2008 Bila-Haut at Pete’s Wine Shop, in Bellevue, for about $14.00.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Jeffrey,

I like this wine a lot for everyday drinking. But if you can find Occultum Lipidem (same brand but 1 step higher quality) it is even better....
Cheers,

-Eko