Bila-Haut - Occultum Lapidem - Latour de France label
Bila-Haut - Occultum Lapidem - Latour de France bottle

Bila-Haut - Occultum Lapidem - Latour de France 2019

Red Wine

Log in to view pricing and order online

Don't have an account? Register here

Item# 13620-19

Product Ratings

James Suckling 93pt

Tasting notes

This wine is initially quiet and reserved, with light blackberry paste and black-cherry tones that are spiced by hints of dark chocolate, licorice and turned earth. The palate boasts a firm, tannic structure and bright acidity, with flavors of tobacco, chocolate, black plum and blackberry. Herbal and spicy root overtones linger on the close.

Description

This wine is a blend of Syrah, Grenache and Carignan from 60 year old vines in Cotes du Roussillon Villages Latour de France, Languedoc-Roussillon, France. Each variety is fermented using native yeast in cement vats. Racking replaces filtration to clarify the wine and aging takes place in a combination of cement tank and 600-liter wooden demi-muids.The wine is aged half in cement tanks and half in oak casks.

The complexity of Bila-Haut reflects the diverse terroirs and the wind of the Midi. By meticulously hand harvesting the best grapes from the best vineyards of the Roussillon, a well known Rhone producer has transformed his magic to the Languedoc and created a wine with finesse.

Occultum Lapidem means “Hidden Gem” in Latin, and this blend from the Cotes du Roussillon Villages Latour de France region certainly fits the bill — although that may not be the case now that the word is out! The Cotes du Roussillon region is set up similarly to the Cotes du Rhone, in that wines that bear the Cotes du Roussillon Villages name are generally of a higher quality than the more generic Cotes du Roussillon label. Taking that one step further, there are also four villages (Caramany, Latour de France, Lesquerde and Tautavel) that have the right to also attach their name to the title, due to the even higher quality of wine produced there which is the case with this Latour de France bottling.

Estate

The complexity of Bila-Haut reflects the diverse terroirs and the wind of the Midi. By meticulously hand harvesting the best grapes from the best vineyards of the Roussillon, Michel Chapoutier has transformed his magic to the Languedoc and created a wine with finesse. These wines are produced biodynamically and express the best terroir of the region.

History

Purchased by Michel Chapoutier in 1999, Bila-Haut is located in the best part of the Languedoc called the Côtes du Roussillon. Historically the site was one of the first areas planted for viticulture by the Greek Mariners and has been continuously a wine region known for making top quality wines. The House of Bila, the translation of the name of the estate, was once a house of refuge for the Knights Templar, which is why their cross is symbolically used on the label. In the hills of the Agly Valley, 40+ year old vines are carefully and meticulously managed by an experienced team of viticulturalists, where sustainable farming and low yields combine to create the highest quality fruit. Wine is made in the vineyards, by paying careful attention to the plants and working alongside nature.

Technical data

Grape variety/varieties: Syrah, Grenache and Carignan.
Harvest: Grapes are hand-harvested.
Soil: The vineyard is located on Gneiss and schistous soils from the Devonian Period and limestone from Kimmeridgian Period.
Ageing: About a half matured in vats and the other half is aged in casks according to the vintage.
Alcohol content: 14

Vinification

100% destemmed. Extraction is only carried out by punching of the cap during a long maceration (at least four weeks).