Drink.  Learn.  Laugh.  Repeat.

Welcome Back!Sign in here:

Not Registered?Become one of our thirsty clan 333,880 strong:

Register Today!

M. Chapoutier Bila-Haut Occultum Lapidem 2016 Wine Review

M. Chapoutier Bila-Haut Occultum Lapidem 2016

M. Chapoutier Bila-Haut Occultum Lapidem 2016

Côtes du Roussillon-Villages Latour-de-France, Roussillon A.C., France

Community Score:92/100

Community Reviews: 10

  Add My Review


Price: $26.95

Drink: 2019-2026

Bottle size: 750 ml

Alcohol: 14%

Sweetness: Extra Dry

Wine Type: Red Wine


Winery: M. Chapoutier

Agent: Philippe Dandurand Wines Ltd.

Natalie's Score: 95/100

Produced by M. Chapoutier Occultum Lapidem is 50% Syrah, 40% Grenache, 5% each of Carignan and Mourvèdre full-bodied red blend. Wow! Excellent with ripe blueberry, cassis, earthy florals, savoury herbs and a white pepper finish. Tannins are grippy. Decant one hour if pouring now or hold in cellar for three years. Pair with a grilled Porterhouse steak.

Food pairings: filet mignon, slow-roasted baron of beef, rib steak.

Best Beef Wine

This M. Chapoutier Bila-Haut Occultum Lapidem 2016 was reviewed on November 16, 2019 by Natalie MacLean

More Vintages: 2018  2017  2015  2014  2013 

  Add New Vintage

Pricing & Stock Information

StoreStock    
Leslie & Davis1 Add
See More Edit
  • BCLDB
  • 279638
  • $22.48 
  • Check Stock

Reviews and Ratings

Andrew Bernardo rated this wine as 94/100 with the following review:

Easily one of the best offerings in all of southern France year in and year out. The 2015 is a monster, oozing ripe plum, cassis and cherry liqueur. There’s lots of fresh and dried herbs along with hung game and warm spice. 94 Pointa.
Daniel O'Keefe rated this wine as 93/100 with the following review:

The intense purple-black colour hints at the aromatic and flavour concentration to come. Powerful nose with earthy funk and loads of black cherry, plum, black pepper, and an inkling of floral. Palate similar in style and potency while adding notes of iodine, medicinal, and smoke. Chewy tannins with big body and acid. Built to last. Not for the faint of heart. Blue rare steak au poivre anyone?
Linda Mertes WSET 2 rated this wine as 92/100 with the following review:

Another great vintage from the winemaker Michel Chapoutier for his Bila-Haut Occultum Lapidem. This vintage is noted for its example of "terroir". Mainly a blend of Syrah(aroma), Grenache (silkiness) and Carignan (acidity), there are aromas of blackberry and currants. Leather and forest earthiness are evident from the oak aging. Pair with lamb!
Jenny Ratcliffe-Wright CWM rated this wine as 91/100 with the following review:

A classic southern France blend with a backbone of Syrah and Grenache. Packed full of blackberry, mulberry and floral notes of violets and bramble with a distinct minerality that is appealing. Great value wine. Certainly decant this and have it with food. Have it with rare roasted beef with porcini salt @wrightwineblog
Alison Hamilton reviewed this wine as follows:

From Donna Cutler
M. Chapoutier's Bila-Haut Occultum Lapidem 2016 is big and rich, full-bodied red blend of 50% Syrah, 40% Grenache and 5% each of Carignan and Mourvèdre with ripe black currant, savoury spice, white pepper and earthy flavours on the palate. Not for the faint of heart. Enjoy now and for the next eight years. Pair with filet mignon. - Community Wine Reviews

1 Member would buy this wine again

If you liked the M. Chapoutier Bila-Haut Occultum Lapidem 2016, you might also like these wines:

Recipes for M. Chapoutier Bila-Haut Occultum Lapidem 2016

WANT TO LEARN HOW TO

PAIR WINE
& FOOD?

Join me in a free online video class to learn the secrets to perfect pairings.

Wine of the Week

As featured on  

CTV Wine of the Week!

Charles Baker White Wine
Riesling 2021,
Vinemount Ridge, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario V.Q.A. ...

Natalie MacLean

Natalie MacLean offers North America's most popular online wine and food pairing classes. She was named the World's Best Drinks Writer at the World Food Media Awards in Australia.

Natalie has published two books with Random House, both selected as one of Amazon's Best Books of the Year.

Join 333,880 thirsty wine lovers who get access to all of her wine reviews by becoming a member of her site. Take a free online pairing class with her here.

FEEL LOST IN THE

LCBO?

Know the wines you want before you even get to the store with my wine reviews. Join now. It's free.

Red, White & Drunk All Over

  Best Books of the Year

Red, White & Drunk all over by Natalie MacLean

Natalie MacLean writes about wine with a sensuous obsession... and often laugh-out-loud funny... Terrific.

Rex Pickett, Sideways

Ms. MacLean is the disarming Everywoman. She loves wine, loves drinking ... ultimately, it's a winning formula.

Eric Asimov, The New York Times

GOT A SMARTPHONE?

Access my reviews on mobile with the bar code scanner.

GET NAT'S APP

Unquenchable: A Tipsy Search

  Best Books of the Year

Unquenchable by Natalie MacLean

Natalie MacLean is a new force in the wine writing world ‐ a feisty North American answer to Hugh Johnson and Jancis Robinson. She can write beautifully about wine.

The Financial Times of London

There are very few people in the wine world who "get it" and Natalie is one of those who brings more fun to a buttoned-up and stodgy game.

Gary Vaynerchuck, Wine Library TV

Starting a Wine Cellar?

Expert advice for all budgets

Insider tips on starting a wine cellar
From wine racks to underground caves, insider tips on size and space, number of bottles, ideal conditions and reputable resources.   learn more  
Winner World's Best Drink Writer
WFour-Time Winner James Beard Foundation
Five-Time Winner Association of Food Journalists
Six-Time Winner Bert Greene Award
Best Wine Literature Book Gourmand World Cookbook Awards
Online Writer of the Year Louis Roederer International Wine Writing Award