M. Chapoutier Ermitage Le Pavillon 2019 (75cl) - Rhone, France

Chapoutier labels honour former owner Maurice Monier de la Sizeranne by using the modern form of braille he created.

Maison M. Chapoutier is one of the most famed wineries in the Rhone Valley, dating back to 1808 when the first vines were planted. Today, the winery eschews tradition by ageing its unfiltered, unrefined wines in small oak casks for shorter periods and working with biodynamically grown grapes. Its 2019 M. Chapoutier Ermitage Le Pavillon follows this attitude and is characterised by its deep garnet red hue and smoky, tarry nose with hints of raspberry and blackberry that opens into a velvety palate of cocoa and tobacco, which lends the wine well to ageing for up to 75 years.