Michel Chapoutier, Bila-Haut Rosé

A couple weeks ago I published a review of Michel Chapoutier, Bila-Haut Cotes du Roussillon Villages, at wine that absolutely blew me away by how awesome it is.  So I had to post a review of another wine from the Bila-Haut line, their rosé.

This rosé comes from the Languedoc-Roussillon area in France.  And while many people first think of Bourdeaux, Burgundy or Champagne when they think of French wines, the Languedoc-Roussillon wine region produces a third of all the wine made in France and it’s the biggest wine region in the world, with 700,000 acres of vines.

This wine is more specifically from the Pays d’Oc IGP, which is not just a region but a designation of wine produced by specific guidelines.  A wine needs to be certified by the Bureau Véritas Quality France in order to be labeled as Pays d’Oc IGP.  The standards for Pays d’Oc IGP are somewhat recent, thanks to a reform effort launched in 2009.

Cinsault and grenache are the grapes used to produce this tasty rosé.

Orange peel, lemon, peach and melon aromas are delightful and harmonious on the nose of this wine.  The palate brings dry lemon and melon flavors, complemented by a rich mineral backbone.  The fruit is modest in this wine and some may find it “thin” but others will find it just right.  The mouthfeel is good and the acidity is sufficient.  It finishes with citrus, peach and mineral flavors that last a good long time.

Wine: Michel Chapoutier, Bila-Haut, Pays d’Oc IGP
Variety: Grenache and cinsault
Vintage: 2013
Alcohol: 13.5%
Rating: 86
Price: $12.99
Disclosure: This wine was received as a sample.

Find Michel Chapoutier, Bila-Haut, Pays d’Oc IGP with Snooth

Want another opinion?  Check out these reviews:

• Pull That Cork
• TheWineBlog