Occultum Lapidem is the wine that firmly established Michel Chapoutier’s Bila-Haut project in Roussillon. Sourced from the renowned village of Latour de France, this Syrah- and Grenache-dominant blend (a splash of Mourvedre is also hiding in the background on this vintage) captures the region’s warmth and generosity while staying true to Chapoutier’s commitment to elegance and depth. Notes of black cherry, Medjool date, and pipe tobacco are layered over a core of striking minerality, giving the wine both richness and precision. After a brief absence from the market, we're thrilled to have this old favorite back—especially at the best retail price in the U.S. You'll be just as glad to see it in your glass as we are to see it back on our shelves.

The nose, even after a few hours to open further is still very dense and savory. The fruit is inky black, with stewed black cherries, blackberry compote with herbs, and violets. The nose is very savory, but in an inviting and intriguing way, a way that makes me sad I don't have a little bit of something to eat right now while I try it but we must soldier on. The palate is super dark and dusty on the front, with the same fruit but with hints of cocoa and then underneath there's lighter and riper fruit showing through, the line of acidity pushing through not too forcefully with a really nice balance. This is a savory little treat, excellent for when you want a wine with more power but not something that's going to have too much fruit if you're against that sort of thing. This is a lot of wine for the money and we have some of the very best pricing on this, get it while you can, because once it starts to cool down a bit you're going to want this with all your stews and roast beasts.