M. Chapoutier Hermitage Monier de la Sizeranne 2012
- Vintage
- 2012
- Country
- France
- Region
- Rhone
- Size
- 750ml
- Rating
- WS91, WA90
- Grape
- Syrah
Singed juniper and mesquite notes lead the way, followed by a sleek core of damson plum, red currant and pomegranate fruit flavors. Features a long, sandalwood- and iron-tinged finish. Not dense, but focused and tight-grained. Drink now through 2023. - WS91
The 2012 reds started with the 2012 Hermitage la Sizeranne, which comes from a number of lieux-dits in Hermitage. Outstanding stuff, it has lots of smoked herbs, saddle leather, pepper and minerality to go with a solid core of raspberry/blackberry fruit. Fleshy, ripe and textured, with fantastic purity, it's a pleasure-bent effort to drink over the coming 7-8 years. Drink: 2015~2022 - WA90
Maison M. Chapoutier is one of the most recognizable – and sizeable – producers in the Rhône Valley. It is known for its wines from both the north and south of the valley, but in particular for its red and white Hermitage wines, made from Syrah and a blend of Marsanne and Roussanne, respectively.
The family's history in the Rhône dates back to 1808, but it wasn't until 1879 that Polydor Chapoutier transitioned the family from growing grapes to making and trading wine. In 1988, Michel Chapoutier took the company reins, and a push toward quality saw the Chapoutier label begin to gain international recognition.
Michel Chapoutier eschewed the use of traditional, large format chestnut foudres for aging, instead moving toward smaller oak casks with shorter aging periods. He also advocated keeping the wines unfiltered and unfined, and to work with only biodynamically or organically grown fruit across all of the vineyards.
From 1996, all M. Chapoutier labels have included braille in honor of Maurice Monier de la Sizeranne, who created a form of modern abbreviated braille, and was the original owner of the Chapoutier vineyard in Hermitage (indeed, "Monier de la Sizeranne" is the name of Chapoutier's top Hermitage wine).
Non-Hermitage wines
Outside of the flagship vineyards in Hermitage, Chapoutier has vineyards across the Rhône, including plots in Côte Rôtie, Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Condrieu. These span both single-vineyard expressions and generic AOC-level wines.
Chapoutier also makes regional Côtes du Rhône wines, and has viticultural interests in Australia (Domaine Tournon), Portugal and Alsace.
Domaine de Bila-Haut
Chapoutier's estate at Latour de France in the Roussillon region produces wines under a number of appellations:
Côtes du Roussillon Villages Latour de France: The original release, Occultum Lapidem, a blend of Syrah, Grenache and Carignan, and the V.I.T. cuvée, a 65:35 Grenache - Syrah.
Côtes du Roussillon Villages Lesquerde: R.I., a 100 percent Syrah, and L'Esquerda (mainly Syrah with Grenache and Carignan).
Côtes du Roussillon Villages: The core Bila-Haut red.
Côtes du Roussillon: Bila-Haut Blanc.
Collioure: Chrysopée red and white wines.
Banyuls: Rimage (vintage) and Blanc
- Information from Wine Searcher