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Description

Domaine de Bila-Haut
The Roussillon history is complex and compelling, and has at times been quite violent. Terraces on stony soil, with a rich geological background and a climate that man has adopted for his crops. The Roussillon was bound to attract Michel Chapoutier’s attention. He decided to locate his domaine at Latour de France. Black and brown schist to give the wine a solar touch. Gneiss for minerality and freshness. Combination of limestone and chalk for strength and balance. Three varieties of grapes grow on the land covered by Domaine de BILA-HAUT. Syrah, with its savage aromas of scrub and spice. Grenache, so full of surprises. And Carignan, for mineral wines with crispy tannic notes. The “Vignes de BILA-HAUT” and the “Domaine de BILA-HAUT Occultum Lapidem” are the main expressions of this terroir. However, Michel Chapoutier wanted to obtain more via this site, to seize the quintessence. It took him six years of standing back, observing, and analyzing to give life to this precious and exceptional wine called “V.I.T.” which stands for “Visitare Interiore Terrae.” Precious by its blending. Grenache grapes from 70-year-old vines, grown on a magnificent plot in the heart of the “Garrigue” scrubland. Enthusiasm, richness, and complexity. Then Syrah grapes, ripened slowly on vines grown on clayey limestone soil giving powerful, silky-smooth tannins, and blended with Syrah grapes grown on the company’s most beautiful schist-based land. An elegant bouquet and a sophisticated flavor in the mouth. Also exceptional because it is bold, like the people who gave this land its identity. The story is going on in 2008 and is now taking place near the village of Lesquerde. There, the land is made of high limestone-based cliffs and dry soils over which the “Tramontane” wind blows. Then, Michel Chapoutier’s interest for this region rises again, and a new wine is born: “L’esquerda.” This outstanding wine is mainly based on beautiful Syrah and Grenache grapes from the nicest granitic terroirs. “L’esquerda,” meaning “the fault in the rock” in Catalan, is the faithful expression of a personality, of the identity of a region. Another discovery by Michel Chapoutier.

Grape varieties
Mainly Syrah, and then Grenache and Carignan varieties

Soil
The vineyard of Lesquerde is constituted of hill top plains and slopes which are made of granitic soil. Its 350m altitude provides it a unique terroir.

Harvest
Each plot is hand-harvesting between 15th September and 15th October.

Winemaking

10% of the wine is aged in oak casks and the remain in concrete tanks

Tasting

Colour: the colour is intense and deep
Nose: it shows maturity with aromas of black fruits and warm spices. Floral notes (violet) which are lightly smoky
Palate: Subtle and powerful

Additional information