M. Chapoutier : Rouge Clair 2025

Characteristics and Tasting Notes for the Rouge Clair 2025 by M. Chapoutier

Tasting notes

Appearance

This wine displays a bright, light ruby colour, immediately signalling the freshness it is designed to deliver.

Nose

The nose is delicate and expressive, led by aromas of crushed strawberries and raspberries, enhanced by subtle floral notes and a hint of spice reminiscent of cherry.

Palate

The attack is crisp and lively, carried by a well-judged acidity that gives the wine its thirst-quenching character. The very delicate tannins give way to a fruity, mouthwatering finish.

Food and wine pairing

This wine pairs beautifully with light dishes and boldly flavoured cuisines, such as spiced tandoori-style poultry or Mexican recipes. It also works very well with charcuterie or traditional French specialities such as pâté en croûte.

Serving and cellaring

The Rouge Clair 2025 is best enjoyed chilled, ideally between 10 and 12°C, or even served over ice for a different tasting experience. Its thermochromic label reveals the words "& Frais" when the bottle is immersed in water below 12°C, confirming the ideal serving temperature. It should be stored away from light, at between 7 and 10°C, and enjoyed within 10 to 12 months of bottling.

A Vin de France by M. Chapoutier, Crafted for Freshness

The estate

Founded in 1929 with the creation of its winery in Tain-l'Hermitage, the House of M. Chapoutier is today run by Michel Chapoutier, alongside his children Mathilde and Maxime. Committed to biodynamics since 1991, the House cultivates nearly 260 hectares of vines in the Rhône Valley and beyond. It stands out for its use of Braille on its labels since 1996, in tribute to Maurice Monier de la Sizeranne, and for a constant drive for innovation, in both its viticultural practices and its wine concepts.

The vineyard

This Vin de France comes from vines planted on clay-limestone terraces, a soil type that promotes the freshness and purity of fruit sought for this cuvée. The grapes, grown on well-balanced vines in good sanitary condition, are harvested mechanically at night to best preserve their aromatic integrity.

Vinification and ageing

To produce the Rouge Clair 2025, the grapes are picked slightly under-ripe in order to preserve the full purity of the fruit. After destemming, they are inoculated with yeast and then chilled for 72 hours without intervention, which limits the extraction of colour compounds while encouraging the release of aromas. Alcoholic fermentation then takes place at a controlled temperature of around 20°C. A light sulphur addition is made after malolactic fermentation to preserve the brightness of the fruit, followed by three months of ageing exclusively in stainless steel tanks.

Grape varieties

This wine is made from a blend of Grenache Noir and Syrah.