Winery & Vintage Info
Winemaking Notes
M. Chapoutier Belleruche Côtes Du Rhône 2023 is crafted with meticulous attention to detail, with grapes picked at phenolic maturity and mainly harvested by machine before undergoing total de-stemming and vinification in concrete and stainless steel tanks for 3 to 4 weeks. Pumping over operations are carried out each day to gently extract the aromatic components, anthocyanins, and tannins, ensuring the wine showcases scents of red fruits like Morello cherries, accented by notes of liquorice and grey pepper. The fermentation temperature is regulated and set at 28°C, and at the end of alcoholic fermentation, the temperature is allowed to rise to 30-33°C to assist the polymerisation of tannins, creating the robust structure defined by sturdy yet smooth tannins that characterises this wine. The wine is then matured for 6 months in concrete vats and stainless steel tanks, with the garnet-hued colour with excellent clarity reflecting the wine's concentration and quality Côtes du Rhône fruit. This careful winemaking approach ensures the palate displays beautiful integration between fruit intensity and tannin structure, with the red fruit flavours of Morello cherries providing richness whilst the liquorice and grey pepper notes add complexity and interest, creating a balanced and satisfying expression with depth and character that showcases M. Chapoutier's expertise in crafting wines with structure and elegance.
Appellation Heritage & Terroir
The Côtes du Rhône appellation is one of the oldest in France, with more than two thousand years of winemaking history dating back to when Vienna was a prestigious metropolis and first planted vineyards there. The reputation of wines largely overstepping regional limits led to a royal edict in 1729 that re-specified the demarcation and instituted marking of casks with the letters "C.D.R.", and the Côtes du Rhône wines finally attained official recognition from the INAO in 1937 thanks to Baron Le Roy de Boiseaumarié. The 2023 M. Chapoutier Belleruche is made up of several major types of terroirs, including pebbly clay soils, soils with layers of stones, stony clay terraces, and stony silty-sand soils, with all these soils providing the vine with a constant water supply and, at night, releasing the heat stored up by the pebbles during the day. This unique terroir creates the garnet-hued wine with scents of red fruits like Morello cherries, accented by notes of liquorice and grey pepper, whilst the robust structure defined by sturdy yet smooth tannins reflects the quality of the fruit and the exceptional character of the Côtes du Rhône appellation. The 2023 vintage showcases classic Côtes du Rhône character, with the wine displaying beautiful integration between fruit intensity and tannin structure, creating a balanced and satisfying expression that pairs beautifully with roast lamb, grilled meats, cassoulet, and aged cheese when served at 16-18°C, demonstrating the exceptional quality that comes from more than two thousand years of winemaking heritage in this prestigious appellation.
