M. Chapoutier : La Bernardine 2023

Characteristics and tasting notes for the La Bernardine 2023 M. Chapoutier

Tasting notes

Colour
The visual appearance reveals an alluring deep red hue, enhanced by intense crimson highlights.

Nose
Remarkably subtle, the aromatic bouquet opens with notes of blackcurrant and plum. It then gains complexity, revealing hints of roasted coffee and cinnamon, freshened by aromas of cherry and morello cherry.

Palate
The palate opens with fruity, spicy flavours, marked by delicate notes of liquorice. The structure shows a fine balance, supported by silky tannins that carry the tasting through with elegance.

Food and wine pairing

This red wine pairs wonderfully with tuna carpaccio, marinated or sauced meats, as well as large game. It also goes perfectly with lamb, roasted meats, aged hard cheeses, or even vegetarian dishes such as moussaka or lentils.

Service and storage

With fine ageing potential, La Bernardine 2023 can be cellared and enjoyed until around 2038.

Other characteristics

This wine has a moderate alcohol content of between 14.5% and 15%.

An authentic and complex Châteauneuf-du-Pape

The estate

Founded in 1808 in France, the M. Chapoutier house is a true institution of the Rhône Valley. Now led by Michel Chapoutier, this visionary estate spans over 500 hectares of vineyards around the world. A pioneer of biodynamics since the early 1990s, the estate is dedicated to revealing the pure expression of each terroir. Renowned worldwide for its excellence, the producer also stands out for its commitment to inclusion, illustrated by the use of braille labels on its bottles.

The vineyard

This wine comes from the renowned Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation. The vines thrive on Quaternary terraces covered with large rolled pebbles, remnants of former riverbeds that store daytime heat and release it at night. This complex terroir also includes Miocene sands, clay-rich Villafranchian terraces, and fluvioglacial alluvium, offering unique conditions for grape ripening.

The vintage

2023 began with a dry winter, leading to early water stress, followed by a late budbreak in April under the influence of the mistral wind. Timely rains in May and June supported vegetative growth ahead of a particularly hot, dry summer. An extreme heat spike in late August temporarily halted ripening, but subsequent rainfall allowed the berries to resume their cycle and reach optimal maturity by harvest time.

Winemaking and aging

After a rigorous sorting of the bunches, La Bernardine 2023 is vinified in closed concrete vats to control temperatures and prevent oxidation. Maceration lasts around three weeks to gently extract colour and tannins. The wine is then aged for 15 months, exclusively in concrete vats, a method chosen to preserve freshness, fruit, and mineral identity without any oak influence.

Grape varieties

The blend is dominated by Grenache Noir, complemented by Syrah and Mourvèdre.