Outspoken, flamboyant, brilliant, daring … these are among the words often used to describe Michel Chapoutier. Without question, he is one of the world's greatest winemakers, and one of the wine world's most fascinating personalities.
Michel is widely known as an innovative, seventh-generation winemaker whose unique and meticulous methods of cultivation have become an authentic philosophy for the Maison M. Chapoutier. As a young winemaker, Michel’s allegiance to the soil and reverence for terroir startled observers. He rejected chemicals, worked according to the lunar calendar, embraced biodynamic techniques, turned to indigenous yeasts, cast off of press wine – he did everything and anything to encourage the voice of the vineyard to speak loudly in his wines.
The grapes are destemmed and fermented in cement or stainless steel tanks. The maceration lasts 3 weeks in order to give the wine the good tannin structure required for good aging and stability. Part of the Viognier grapes were added during fermentation to fully integrate the flavor and tannins. 100% of the wine is aged in tanks with micro oxygenation. Bottled 10 to 12 months after the harvest.
This is a spicy Shiraz from the vineyards of Central Victoria brightens with a boost of Viognier for aroma and balance, as often practiced in France’s most highly regarded appellation of the Northern Rhone Valley, Côte Rôtie. The grapes grown in this Austrialian vineyard were planted on 19th century French rootstocks, another nod to the French tradition & influence in this new world wine.
This wine is a collaborative effort between two renowned wine families; Chapoutier from the Rhône Valley in France, and Terlato family of Napa Valley in California.