M. Chapoutier

Which estate is the world's most awarded and has received the most 100-point scores from Robert Parker? If you answered M. Chapoutier, you'd be correct, but likely in the minority. Situated centrally in the prized Rhone Valley's Hermitage Hill, M. Chapoutier has captivated Burgundy lovers for years by embracing bold, new horizons and daring to think beyond the traditional. With Michel Chapoutier leading the charge and priming the next generation to follow in his unorthodox ways, the estate is equipped to continue delivering riveting vintages and introducing ingenious winemaking methods. 

It Begins With Two

M. Chapoutier's origins date back to 1808, beginning as 'Calvet et Compagnie' at the foot of Hermitage Hill. After undergoing an ownership carousel throughout the rest of the century, Rodolp Delephine purchased the estate in 1883 and joined forces with Marius Chapoutier in 1897. The duo began exporting wine from the now 'Delépine et Chapoutier' to clients in Germany, The Netherlands, and Switzerland until Delephine's retirement 25 years later. With the estate firmly in Marius Chapoutier's hands, he renamed the estate to 'Chapoutier et Compagnie' and laid the groundwork for a family-run estate. 

A grand move to the foot of Hermitage Hill gave the winery an improved terroir and a new placement in the Burgundy scene. By adding new renovations and updates, Marius led the estate to new heights before he died in 1937 when control was handed over to his son, Marc. As ownership changed once more, so did the estate's name. A personalized makeover was given, as it was renamed to M. Chapoutier, the final change in the estate's history. 

Michel Chapoutier: The Maverick Takes Over

At just 26 years old, Michel Chapoutier took charge of the estate in a daring move- of which many were to come down the line. A free-spirited, unique, and intelligent character, Michel approached his then-retired, yet still-involved grandfather, to offer an ultimatum: let him buy the estate and fire father Max or he would leave. In a bold decision, Marc decided to fire Michel's father and allow the then 26-year-old full control over the estate, after only 3 years of experience as the head winemaker. 

Preferring to call himself a farmer rather than a winemaker, Michel continually challenged preconceived notions about winemaking and implemented numerous 'disruptive' ideas. He introduced biodynamic cultivation in 1991 and has safeguarded the vineyard against chemical and pesticide use, instead opting to add natural elements like plants, animals, and minerals. In every move Michel makes, he ensures that his self-described "life lover" attitude is instilled into every process and works to move forward and never remain still.

With a passion for wine itself rather than Chapoutier wine, Michel was able to experiment with various techniques and gain inspiration from rivaling estates across the globe. His biggest creative catalyst came from a visit to Napa wineries in the early 80s, where he discovered the advanced methods of California winemakers and questioned why European estates that held centuries of history were behind. A decade later, Michel earned Winemaker of the Year in Le Revue du Vin de France in 1992 as a result of his efforts.

The Heart of Hermitage Hill

M. Chapoutier is located in one of the Rhone's greatest terroirs- Hermitage Hill. Its soils are some of the most unique in the world and the region holds a great distinction of being the only appellation in the world that has four geological eras. With multiple terroirs on the hill and in Chapoutier's vineyard, Michel aims to "get the terroirs talking" and express their unique characteristics in each bottling. 

Throughout the years, Chapoutier has acquired additional vineyards in areas like Portugal and Australia, yet specifically uses single vineyard selection for each vintage. This highly intentional move has been made by Michel, who is also against blending varieties for complexity, believing that the winemaker should be up to the task of using a single variety to create high-quality, interesting wine. 

The Next Generation of M. Chapoutier

As Chapoutier wines have been firmly in the hands of Michel for the last 35 years, the visionary is looking to hand the reins over to his children, Mathilde and Maxim. He hopes the pair can work together in the future to continue a legacy of acclaimed 100-point vintages and high market shares for Rhone wines. The estate has become accustomed to enthralling the wine world, but never takes their legacy for granted. As daughter Mathilde works nearly 100 hours per week, M. Chapoutier looks destined to continue a new generation of greatness.