Les Becasses
⏳ wine.drinking_window
Typically best enjoyed 5-15 years from vintage release.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
roasted game birds, grilled ribeye steak, wild mushroom risotto
✨ wine.spec_sheet
M. Chapoutier's 'Les Becasses' is a sublime expression of the legendary Cote-Rotie appellation in the northern Rhone Valley. Named after the woodcock ('la becasse'), a migratory bird that frequents the region during autumn, this wine pays homage to the local hunting heritage and the wild, untamed nature of the steep, terraced granite slopes where the vines cling. Crafted from Syrah harvested from both the Cote Blonde and Cote Brune sub-regions, the grapes undergo traditional fermentation in concrete tanks before the wine is aged for 14 to 16 months in oak casks, mostly of previous use to preserve the purity of the fruit. This meticulous process yields a wine of profound elegance, characterized by its deep ruby color, intense aromas of ripe black fruits, violet, and characteristic cracked black pepper, all supported by a mineral backbone born from the decomposed granite soils.
🍾 wine.about_producer
Established in 1808 in Tain-l'Hermitage, M. Chapoutier is one of the Rhône Valley's most historic and revered wine producers, currently led by the visionary Michel Chapoutier who transitioned the estate to biodynamic farming in the 1990s. The maison is globally celebrated for its pioneering "sélections parcellaires" (single-vineyard wines) and its commitment to expressing the pure terroir of prestigious appellations like Hermitage, Côte-Rôtie, and Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Utilizing traditional, low-intervention winemaking techniques, Chapoutier produces highly acclaimed reds and whites, including iconic labels such as the Châteauneuf-du-Pape Barbe Rac, Côte-Rôtie La Mordorée, and the Hermitage-derived La Sizeranne. Beyond the Rhône, the family has expanded its terroir-driven philosophy to exceptional estates in Roussillon, Australia's Victoria region, and Portugal's Douro Valley.