M. Chapoutier : Les Granits 2025

Characteristics and tasting advice for Les Granits 2025 Blanc de M. Chapoutier

Tasting

Appearance

Pale gold, luminous, with excellent clarity.

Nose

Fine and precise expression, initially marked by empyreumatic notes evoking toasted sesame and a hint of gunpowder. With aeration, the bouquet gains complexity, revealing lemon zest, freshly crushed hazelnut, followed by a subtle touch of fennel.

Palate

Straightforward attack, driven by chiseled freshness. The texture unfolds elegantly with notes of brown butter and yellow-fleshed fruits, in a sleek and flavorful style. The finish is saline and persistent, highlighted by delicate smoky nuances.

A fresh and precise Saint-Joseph white wine

The estate

Founded in 1808 in Tain, Maison M. Chapoutier stands as a leading reference in the Rhône Valley. Initially known as Maison Calvet et Compagnie, it definitively adopted the name Chapoutier in 1955. Today, Michel Chapoutier leads the estate, alongside his children Mathilde and Maxime. A pioneer and visionary, he initiated the estate’s conversion to biodynamic farming as early as 1991. The house is dedicated to expressing the identity of each terroir with precision, through practices that respect natural rhythms, placing the brand among the most admired in the world.

The vineyard

The vines behind this Les Granits cuvée thrive on the steep slopes of the Saint-Joseph appellation, on the right bank of the river. This demanding terroir, cultivated on terraces supported by stone walls known as “chaillées,” benefits from a climate combining continental and Mediterranean influences. The oldest plots, located on the southern hillsides of Tournon, root their vines in coarse-grained granite soils. This geological singularity brings great precision and marked minerality to the grapes.

The vintage

A vintage that began with a rather mild and very rainy winter, building up good water reserves, followed by a prolonged cold period delaying budburst and reducing the risk of frost. Spring, alternating between rain and sunshine, led to strong vegetative growth and increased vine pressure, with early flowering but few grape clusters. Summer was marked by two heatwaves and a hail episode in Crozes-Hermitage, causing some losses. Harvests, early from mid-August, were spread out thanks to late August rains that refined ripeness levels.

Winemaking and aging

The grapes are fully destemmed, then gently pressed. The must then undergoes cold settling for 24 to 48 hours. Fermentation takes place half in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks and half in demi-muids. Aging continues on lees for eight to ten months, with regular bâtonnage to enhance texture and complexity. The two batches are then blended before bottling.

Grape variety

Les Granits 2025 Blanc de M. Chapoutier is made from 100% Marsanne.