Bila-Haut Chrysopée 2021

Chrysopée is a Collioure red from Domaine de Bila-Haut, Michel Chapoutier's Roussillon estate, drawn from steep terraced vineyards above the Mediterranean. The Collioure appellation sits on schist soils on slopes that fall toward the sea, worked by hand because machines cannot reach them. The hot maritime climate and intense coastal light ripen Grenache and Mourvèdre fully, while sea breezes and the cooling Tramontane wind keep acidity and freshness in the fruit. The estate is farmed biodynamically. The wine is aged 18 months in a mix of oak barrels and concrete, the concrete preserving pure fruit and the oak adding structure through slow oxygen exchange. The colour is a deep crimson with bluish highlights. The nose shows ripe plum and dark berry with black pepper, dark chocolate and the scent of dried Mediterranean herbs. The palate is full at 15 percent, with firm but ripe tannins, a warming core of fruit and a long, spiced, savoury finish carried by Mourvèdre. It is generous now and will develop further over several years. Serve at 17 degrees, decant an hour ahead, and pair with roast and grilled meats.