»"Wine is born of heaven and earth... from the love we give it."» Michel Chapoutier
The man
It all begins with Michel Chapoutier, a unique, unconventional, and inquisitive man. Michel Chapoutier is not a static mind. He is a living, breathing being.
His quest is one of discovery, of revealing terroirs with potential. The expression of the soils. The very thing that will give each wine its distinctive taste. A quest guided by audacity. The audacity to open himself to other horizons, to other terroirs, while remaining a specialist in Rhône grape varieties, the true roots of the House. To provoke a meeting between tradition and modernity, to imagine a new expertise.
Always with the utmost respect. Respect for the land. With biodynamic farming as an essential element of its expertise. Today, it's a given; at M. CHAPOUTIER's, the teams perpetuate the revelation of terroir, as if it were second nature.
Humility is the cornerstone of Mr. Chapoutier's spirit. For only nature presides.
The winemaker observes it, chooses it, and guides it with the utmost respect. “Fac et Spera” (do and hope), which has become the family motto, is its simplest translation.
MICHEL CHAPOUTIER
Wines
For Mr. Chapoutier, the vintage cannot be corrected. There are no processes such as chaptalization, the addition of yeast, or acidifiers to rectify the vagaries of a capricious climate. Michel Chapoutier asserts: “The vintage is a truth, not a bluff. To correct the vintage is a bit like lying. Or, let's just make a wine without a vintage altogether; that's more honest.”
There is, strictly speaking, no such thing as a "Chapoutier" style.
However, the wines of this estate share certain characteristics. The philosophy and working methods are systematically subordinated to certain imperatives of wine expression:
– Systematic search for highly complex and subtle details,
– A systematic search for a length in the mouth greater than the mouth itself, which is itself greater than the nose.,
– Systematic search for minerality, flavors and texture.
Local produce as a matter of conviction:
Michel Chapoutier readily admits it: “I’m a treasure hunter.” He creates terroirs where no one else would dare. Where no one else is investing. In the Rhône Valley, the birthplace of the House. Then in Roussillon, Australia, and Portugal. Lands that were waiting for their moment of revelation.
Terroir is a confluence: that of soil, climate, and human expertise. Making the best wine is impossible. Capturing the best expression of a terroir is the art of the winemaker. It's not about crafting technically demanding wines, but rather about submitting to the terroir.
Parcel Selections according to Michel Chapoutier:
What is a single-vineyard selection if not the most accurate "snapshot" of a terroir? Obtaining it is a privilege. Revealing it requires long and painstaking work. This quest for the absolute is a truly audacious undertaking. A undertaking that, once won, becomes a triumph. Exceptional wines, from a single, always the same, precisely delimited plot in the heart of our most precious vineyards. Our philosophy: to let the soil speak, to intervene, and to offer the best "snapshot" of the terroir (the convergence of soil, the climate that shapes the vintage, and the expertise passed down through generations). Here, biodynamics takes on its full meaning.
Braille:
Not to follow or copy, but to initiate, create, pave the way.
Wine is a symbol of conviviality. It brings people together, unites them, leaving no one behind. In 1996, blind and visually impaired people gained better access to M. CHAPOUTIER wines: all the labels on the House's bottles began to feature Braille. This initiative paved the way for sharing for all. A clear sign of tolerance, but also a powerful symbol. The presence of Braille on M. CHAPOUTIER labels became a second signature. It is also a tribute to Maurice Monier de la Sizeranne, who lost his sight at the age of nine. He invented the first version of contracted Braille in 1882 and founded the Valentin Houï association to help blind and visually impaired people overcome their isolation. His family owned a plot of land in Hermitage, which the Chapoutier family acquired at the beginning of the 20th century. The wine produced from it naturally took the name Monier de la Sizeranne. A way of giving back to someone who had done so much. An initiative that paves the way for sharing for all.
Biodynamics:
According to Michel Chapoutier, «embracing biodynamics means first observing, noting, and acting. It means opening our eyes to farming methods that erode the soil, deplete it, and stifle biological life, which is so essential. Then it means taking action, daring to break with the past.» Since 1991, biodynamics has been at the heart of Mr. Chapoutier’s philosophy. Two words for an essential value: “Bio,” life; “Dynamic,” in action. For its own estates, Maison M. CHAPOUTIER has chosen biodynamic farming. A demanding method, a genuine conviction, driven by a fierce determination: to let the soil live and express itself. Because offering a protected designation of origin (AOC) means, above all, offering the expression of a terroir (soil, climate, people).
His quest across borders:
First, Australia.
He heads to the Victoria region, a country he has always loved for its landscapes, Aboriginal culture, and astonishing geological diversity. The Syrah wines there are of exceptional quality. He brings his methods and expertise to create elegant wines of remarkable mineral purity.
Then the Douro Valley.
More encounters, more discoveries. This time it will be Portugal. More precisely, the Douro Valley, for its granite soils. A particular fondness for Touriga Nacional and its excellent dry wines.
Spain and Germany will follow.
The Terroirs
For Michel Chapoutier, terroir is a confluence: that of soil, climate, and human expertise. Making the best wine is impossible. Capturing the best expression of a terroir is the art of the winemaker. It's not about crafting technically demanding wines, but rather about submitting to the terroir, allowing it to express itself in its true essence. Humanity either shapes the terroir or destroys it.
TERROIRS FROM THE 4 CORNERS OF THE WORLD
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Michel Chapoutier will be the AIVA sponsor for the class of 2023.
Students will attend professional seminars where he will develop his vision of wine and entrepreneurship.
