La Mordoree Assortment Case (2012)
⏳ Drinking Window
2012 - 2017
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Roasted game birds such as duck or pheasant, slow-braised lamb shoulder with rosemary, and wild mushroom risotto.
✨ Technical Specifications
M. Chapoutier's 'La Mordorée' is a legendary Côte-Rôtie that takes its name from the poetic French term for the woodcock, a bird whose warm, coppery autumn plumage mirrors the golden-brown hues of the steep, sun-drenched terraces where these vines grow. Situated on the delicate boundary between the Côte Blonde and the Côte Brune, this vineyard benefits from a unique geological convergence of mica-schist, gneiss, and iron-rich soils. Crafted from 100% Syrah and farmed strictly under biodynamic principles, this cuvée represents Michel Chapoutier's commitment to capturing the purest expression of terroir. The grapes are entirely destemmed and aged in French oak barrels for up to 18 months. This vertical assortment case spanning 2012 to 2017 offers a rare, sensory journey through the shifting microclimates of the Northern Rhône, showcasing the evolution of Syrah from structured, dark-fruited power to elegant, violet-scented complexity.
🍾 About the Producer
Established in 1808 in Tain-l'Hermitage, Maison M. Chapoutier was transformed into a global benchmark for terroir-driven viticulture after Michel Chapoutier took charge in 1990. Operating on the motto 'Fac & Spera' (Do and Hope), the estate became an early, outspoken pioneer of biodynamic farming in 1991 across its extensive estate vineyards. Rooted along the granite terraces, fluvioglacial alluvial soils, and limestone outcrops of the northern and southern Rhône Valley, Chapoutier crafts transparent, single-vineyard bottlings (sélections parcellaires) alongside international ventures in regions like Portugal's Douro Valley. Winemaking favors indigenous yeasts, gentle extraction, and minimal intervention to preserve purity of origin, often eschewing new wood in favor of neutral oak casks or concrete vats. Benchmark cuvées—famed for their tactile Braille labeling introduced in 1994—include Hermitage icons such as Le Méal Blanc, De l'Orée, Les Greffieux, and Côte-Rôtie's La Mordorée, epitomizing tension, minerality, and structural longevity.
🍇 Grape Varieties
Syrah (min 80%), Viognier (up to 20%)