Two wines perfect to ring in the holiday season.
Let’s talk for a minute why I come back to Chapoutier wines again and again – and why they’re always a safe bet when you’re looking for a quality Rhône wine. Certified organic and using biodynamically farmed grapes, they set the standard for high quality wines that don’t sacrifice an inch to sustainable practices. There’s a reason why Chapoutier is a renowned name in the Rhône: for over 200 years they’ve never strayed from their commitment to making incredible wines every single year.
But Chapoutier doesn’t just make incredible wines: they’re also committed to accessibility and inclusive values. If you’ve ever bought a bottle, you’ll notice that braille is printed on every label to allow for the blind to discover these wines as well!
All right, enough of my babbling – let’s get to reviewing these wines!
Domaine Chapoutier, Crozes-Hermitage Blanc 2019 (100% Marsanne), “Les Meysonniers” [Saratoga Wine Exchange, $39]
Domaine Chapoutier, Hermitage Rouge 2016, “Monier de la Sizeranne” [Yiannis Wine, $169]
Before I tasted these wines, I made the assumption that they would be total opposites of each other and embody the two verbs Chapoutier uses in its motto: do and hope. I figured the white would “do” for now, while the red would “hope” for the future – after a few years in the cellar. Both wines “do” excellently this year, yet while drinking them I couldn’t help but think how both could easily hold out for another few years. With everything else going on in the world, I wondered, “Could we manage to get through the last few years and hope for better ones in the future, too?”
Well, here’s hoping – and even so, we’ll drink to that. Happy Holidays, everyone!
** This post was sponsored by Domaine Chapoutier via Folio Fine Wine Partners. Views & opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.
