M. Chapoutier : Lieu-Dit Saint-Pierre 2025

Tasting notes and recommendations for Lieu-Dit Saint-Pierre 2025 by M. Chapoutier

Tasting

Appearance

Deep and intense, the wine displays a rich purple hue.

Nose

The nose, initially marked by a slight reduction, opens up to notes of graphite, black pepper, and sweet spices, accompanied by a noble vegetal character reminiscent of blackberry leaf and a subtle bacon-like nuance.

Palate

The attack is velvety, giving way to a full and enveloping palate. The palate reveals aromas of wild berries, black pepper, and fern, enhanced by delicate smoky notes reminiscent of bacon. The overall impression stands out for its complexity and remarkable persistence.

The complexity and persistence of a Cornas wine

The estate

Founded in 1808 in Tain-L’Hermitage, the Maison M. Chapoutier is now regarded as one of the leading references among Rhône Valley wines. Both a winemaker and a négociant, Michel Chapoutier has elevated this family estate to the highest level over the vintages. The estate’s cuvées are acclaimed worldwide for their finesse and consistent quality. An iconic figure in the wine world, Michel Chapoutier notably holds a record number of perfect scores awarded by critic Robert Parker. Today, his daughter Mathilde continues this momentum, leading a vineyard of over 350 hectares spread across the most prestigious appellations of the Rhône Valley, from north to south.

The vineyard

Lieu-Dit Saint-Pierre is a Cornas wine produced from vines planted on a terroir combining granite and clay, with a southeastern exposure, on the heights of the appellation at around 400 meters above sea level.

The vintage

The vintage began with a rather mild and very rainy winter, building up good water reserves, followed by a prolonged cold spell delaying budburst and reducing the risk of frost. Spring, alternating between rain and sunshine, led to strong vegetative growth and increased vine pressure, with early flowering but few grape clusters. The summer was marked by two heatwaves and a hail episode in Crozes-Hermitage, causing some losses. Harvesting, which started early from mid-August, was spread out thanks to rainfall at the end of August, allowing for refined ripeness levels.

Winemaking and aging

The grapes are destemmed before undergoing fermentation for approximately 10 days in concrete tanks. Maceration continues for 4 to 5 weeks in order to extract the full richness of the grapes.

Grape variety

Lieu-Dit Saint-Pierre 2025 by M. Chapoutier is made from 100% Syrah.