M. Chapoutier : Domaine Terlato et Chapoutier "Saddleback" 2024

Tasting Notes and Serving Suggestions for Domaine Terlato et Chapoutier "Saddleback" 2024

Tasting

Appearance
The wine displays a deep red color with violet highlights, reflecting both excellent ripeness and remarkable freshness.

Nose
The nose opens with intense aromas of black fruits such as blackberry and dark cherry, seamlessly intertwined with notes of licorice and allspice. With aeration, a subtle floral precision enhances this complex bouquet.

Palate
On the palate, the attack is elegant and perfectly balanced, without any heaviness. The mid-palate reveals delicious notes of dark chocolate, blackberry, and spices, lifted by a warm finish marked by black pepper. A beautiful saline minerality accompanies fine, silky tannins, carrying the wine toward a remarkably long finish.

Food and wine pairings

This red wine pairs beautifully with veal with sweet peppers, roasted poultry with Mediterranean herbs, or feathered game prepared with a fruit reduction. It will also elevate a rack of lamb, characterful cuts of beef, or flavorful mushroom-based dishes.

Serving and cellaring

The Domaine Terlato et Chapoutier "Saddleback" 2024 is a wine built for graceful aging. While it can be enjoyed for its fruit in its youth, it will develop its full complexity over time and can be cellared until around 2044, provided it is stored in optimal conditions.

The elegance and minerality of a great Australian wine from Victoria

The estate

The story of the House began in 1808 in the Rhône Valley, but it was in 1897 that the Chapoutier family became involved. Now led by Michel Chapoutier, the company M. Chapoutier oversees a global vineyard spanning 455 hectares. Renowned for its pioneering biodynamic approach, the estate has extended its expertise to Australia, particularly in the Victoria region. This constant pursuit of the pure expression of terroir results in unique wines that precisely capture the essence of distant and bold landscapes.

The vineyard

Born from a partnership formalized in 2000, this Australian vineyard is located in the Pyrenees appellation, within the Victoria region. The vines benefit from a cool climate moderated by altitude and breezes, encouraging slow ripening. The soils are composed of siltstone and red and yellow podzolic soils, scattered with quartz fragments. This singular geology, cultivated in strict accordance with biodynamic principles, gives the grapes an exceptionally distinctive mineral identity.

The vintage

The year 2024 was marked by particularly challenging weather conditions. Following a wet winter and spring influenced by the La Niña phenomenon, heavy rainfall and a hail episode struck the vineyard between December and mid-January. Fortunately, conditions then stabilized. This generally cooler season allowed for slow and balanced ripening, preserving excellent natural acidity while promoting the development of intense color.

Winemaking and aging

For Domaine Terlato et Chapoutier "Saddleback" 2024, the grapes are hand-harvested at optimal ripeness. The bunches are fully destemmed before fermentation in concrete tanks, initiated naturally by indigenous yeasts. A gentle maceration lasting four to six weeks, with light pump-overs, extracts color and refines the structure without harshness. Finally, the wine is aged for twelve months in French oak barrels, adding subtle aromatic complexity.

Grape variety

This Domaine Terlato et Chapoutier "Saddleback" 2024 is made from 100% Shiraz.