Bila-Haut, L’esquerda by Michel Chapoutier

I still remember the first wine I got truly excited about after launching this website over 10 years ago. It was a 2003 Yasa Garnacha and it was one of those finds that had me wanting more. But the following vintages didn’t impress me as much. Finding wine brands that are consistently good is one of the big challenges when you’re a bargain hunter.

One of the brands I’ve discovered that tends to be consistently good is Bila-Haut. I’ve tasted and reviewed a number of wines from this label and I can’t recall one that was disappointing. And I recall a few that were absolutely stellar. Here’s another that makes me a fan of this wine.

What makes the difference between a good wine and a great wine? Some would argue it’s the texture. When you have a wine with a rich, velvety texture it grabs your attention. It’s something special. Of course the aromas, flavors, balance and other attributes need to be there too.

This wine has it all. However, having it all comes at a cost. This wine has a suggested retail price of $28, which is just above my typical target of $25 or less. That said, you may be able to find it at retail for $25.

The color is a deep, dark, rich purplish-red. It’s lovely to look at. The aromas are also quite rich, delivering plenty of spice fragrances like black pepper, cedar, allspice and mint. There are also some berry aromatics. It’s a big wine on the palate, with a velvety mouthfeel and concentrated flavors such as blueberry, blackberry, plum and black tea. The acidity is good. The finish is long and luxurious. This is another outstanding wine from Michel Chapoutier.

Wine: Bila-Haut, L’esquerda
Varieties: Mainly syrah, and then grenache and carignan
Vintage: 2016
Alcohol: 14.5%
Rating: 92
Price: $28.00
Disclosure: This wine was provided as a media sample.