The name Chapoutier has long been associated with the best wines of the northern Rhone Valley, with a family history that reaches back to 1808. The modern winery, established in the city of Tain in 1929 by Marius Chapoutier, is still a leading producer for the famous wines of Hermitage, Cote Rotie, Cornas, Crozes Hermitage, St. Joseph and even Chateauneuf-du-Pape in the southern Rhone. When Michel Chapoutier assumed control of the business in 1990, he instituted a biodynamic regimen in the family’s vineyard holdings along with other company-wide innovations. Through ambitious partnerships Maison M. Chapoutier became involved with ultra-premium wine estates around the world, particularly Portugal and Australia. The longevity of this highly respected wine estate promises to continue into the future with Mathilde and Maxime Chapoutier, representing the 8^th generation of family ownership, joining their parents in the management of this thriving enterprise.

The M. Chapoutier wine included in your September il Consorzio di PRIMA is more modest than the above-mentioned wines but produced with the same high standards. The 2022 Cotes du Rhone ‘Belleruche’ is primarily Grenache and Syrah, sourced from the typical soil mixture of the southern Rhone Valley, i.e., clay, stones, silt, sand and pebbles. It is fermented and aged in concrete vats and stainless-steel tanks. The wine is textbook Cotes du Rhone, with ample red fruit flavors of raspberries and currants from the Grenache and peppery, roasted notes from the Syrah component. It is intended for immediate enjoyment, which shouldn’t be too hard since a good Cotes du Rhone is the ideal ‘everyday’ red. It pairs wonderfully with red meats, chicken, pork, grilled vegetables, pasta, cheese; your pièce de résistance or yesterdays leftovers. You can search high and wide for a better Cotes du Rhone bargain but you’ll never find one with better provenance than M. Chapoutier. After all, with close to 100 years of experience in the Rhone Valley, I think they know a thing or two about making delicious wines.