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.
Grape varieties
Blend of Grenache Blanc, Grenache Gris and Macabeu.
Soil
A part of the grapes comes from limestone and clay soils in the Agly Valley; the other part from granite soils at higher altitude (500m, later ripening sites).
Harvest
Grapes are hand-harvested
Vinification
After pressing, the must is cold-settled. Vinification is performed in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks.
Maturing
Ageing lasts a few months in order to keep all the freshness and enhance the minerality.
Tasting
Colour: pale yellow colour with green tints.
Nose: the wine exhibits citrus aromas (lemon, grapefruit) with smoky notes.
Palate: fresh and very aromatic attack. The palate is round, with a great acidity (coming from the later ripening sites at higher altitude). A lot of freshness on the finish mixed with salty notes, which express the minerality of the wine.
