M.Chapoutier story
The M.Chapoutier company begins it’s story in 1808. After generations of passionate winemakers, working to expand and develop the domain, Michel Chapoutier became head of the company in 1990 and began to apply his belief in biodynamic cultivation. His open-minded nature and thirst for knowledge drives him to explore the full potential of his terroirs while ensuring that the soils continue to express their true character. To this day, the M.Chapoutier company remains a family story with Mathilde and Maxime joining Corinne and Michel Chapoutier to continue sharing their philosophy.
Humility is at the heart of the M.Chapoutier soul as nature always has the final say. The M.Chapoutier company believes winemakers must observe, decide and guide nature in the most respectful way possible. With this belief in mind, the M.Chapoutier’s Single Vineyard Selections, are cultivated with the philosophy of Fac & Spera, “Do & Hope”. Here, the winemaker lets the terroir express itself unfettered in order to obtain exceptional wines that represent a snapshot of a grape, of a certain year, in a given terroir. Alongside their humility and respect for nature, M.Chapoutier wines strive for excellence and prestige through tradition and the alchemy of love between a winemaker and his vine. To M.Chapoutier, a person who really believes in what they are doing and who does what they do for love gets the best out of the vine.
Michel Chapoutier claims to be a chineur and it is with the M.Chapoutier values and philosophy that he creates terroirs where no one would dare to. To him, creating a terroir is discovering a region, a soil and a climate where a specific grape variety will be able to express itself. After starting in the Rhône Valley, the cradle of the M.Chapoutier Maison, then in Roussillon, Australia and Portugal, Michel Chapoutier explored new terroirs and shared his love for wine across borders. To him, these terroirs were waiting for the right time to reveal themselves and once they came into the right hands, the soils were able to create wines with character and expression.
After becoming head of the company, Michel Chapoutier noticed that some agricultural methods erode the soils and weaken them, overlooking how important the biological ecosystem is. This observation led him to make the decisive choice of applying biodynamic methods to the vine. As a result of this decision, chemical pesticides and herbicides were banned. Instead, natural elements (minerals, plants, animals) were introduced to preserve natural balances and bacteria: the real “Mother” of the vine. This precious bacteria transmits the personality of the terroir to the vine and the wine, revealing the terroir’s purest essence. To this day, and since 1991, biodynamics remains at the heart of M.Chapoutier’s philosophy.
Beyond creating prestigious wines, the M.Chapoutier terroirs have a lot to offer in terms of wine tourism. In Tain l'Hermitage, M.Chapoutier offers visits to vineyards followed by tastings at the bar of their cellar and/or private room, enabling you to discover and share the passion of the M.Chapoutier sommeliers. The hill of l’Hermitage is also the perfect landscape for a scenic bike ride through the vineyard that ends at the caveau of M.Chapoutier for a tasting of house wines. And where better to stay than at the vineyards of the Hermitage? The Fac & Spera Hotel & Spa and the private La Tour du Pavillon both offer a taste of Tain L'Hermitage and of the Rhone Valley.
The Rhone Valley & Terroirs
The Rhone Valley is home to the Hermitage hill, the cradle of the M.Chapoutier Maison. The Hermitage appellation is the only appellation in the world where you can find the four geological eras: from the primary era to the quaternary period. Michel Chapoutier was conscious of this tremendous asset and decided to vinify separately the grapes from such expressive terroirs, therefore creating the essence of the M.Chapoutier Sélection Parcellaire (Single Vineyard Selection). Through these wines we are able to understand the specificities of the terroir’s soils, about its climate (in which the vintage has a key role), and about human knowhow.
The heart and soul of M. CHAPOUTIER
The M.Chapoutier Maison works according to strong, shared philosophies and values. The M.Chapoutier’s Single Vineyard Selections, are cultivated with the philosophy of Fac & Spera, “Do & Hope”. Here, the winemaker lets the terroir express itself unfettered in order to obtain exceptional wines that represent a snapshot of a grape, of a certain year, in a given terroir. Some examples of these wines include the M.Chapoutier Ermitage L’Ermite, M.Chapoutier Côte-Rôtie La Mordorée and M.Chapoutier Saint-Joseph Le Clos. M.Chapoutier also offers a selection of prestigious Grand Crus wines that reflect the true essence of their Rhône Valley appellations. In order to further explore the potential of wine, M.Chapoutier also offers a selection of wines that explore the alchemy of love between the winemaker and his vine. To Michel Chapoutier, a person who really believes in what they are doing and someone who does what they do for love gets the best out of the vine. In these wines, man and nature work together more closely than ever. Their selection of traditional wines, such as the M.Chapoutier Belleruche Côte du Rhône Red, are rich, smooth, easy to drink and offer a wide palette of flavours and aromas true to their appellations. In addition to these wine collections, M.Chapoutier also extends their selection to wines and collectors spirits made from their finest wines. This selection will enhance the pleasure of a good meal and is just one of many ways that show the infinite diversity of the M.Chapoutier vineyards. This includes their Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise or their Eau-De-Vie Marc des Côtes-du-Rhône.
