2013 Chapoutier Selection Parcellaires

9 Jul 2014

Michel ChapoutierRain of terroir

There may be no formal cru classification system in the Rhone valley, but if there were, it would likely read like a list of Michel Chapoutier's vineyards. His Selection Parcellaires are single vineyard releases from some of the best and most distinctive sites up and down the valley. Michel believes in letting both terroir and vintage speak. Not for him are cellar interventions to 'correct' vintages; as keen followers of the man's wines will know, this has resulted in wines that vary in character more than most from vintage to vintage. In this respect Chapoutier's empire resembles Olivier Humbrecht's domaine.

But how would such an approach fare in 2013, with a wet winter, a late spring and disrupted bud burst making things difficult for winemakers? In fact the low yields allowed the fruit to ripen through a cool growing season, albeit one with plenty of light. As Michel said to us, it was an old fashioned vintage, like 1991 - a great year in case you were wondering. It was, he said the year of the pleasant surprise, calling for another glass of Bollinger.

A cool vintage, when vines have to struggle a bit and when the fruit load is low has meant the vines had plenty of time to transmit the terroir into the wines and we saw that with loads of mineral freshness in both white and reds. Despite the small harvest - as evidenced by our low allocations - he claims not to have raised prices, as he'd only have to pay more tax. /NT

Offered subject to remaining unsold; available spring 2016