Winemaker Notes
The wine displays a deep, brilliant garnet-red color with vibrant purple highlights. The nose is open, expressive, and complex, revealing aromas of very ripe black fruits such as elderberry and blackberry, layered with peppery spice. The palate opens with a confident attack, supported by tight yet silky tannins. Spicy notes dominate, bringing richness and depth, followed by impressive length and an ethereal, refined finish.
Blend: 60% Grenache, 40% Syrah
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2020s are in the same ballpark as the 2021s, if not a touch more rounded and supple. The 2020 Côtes Du Roussillon Villages Latour De France Visitare Interiore Terrae (60% Grenache and 40% Syrah) offers lots of both red and black berry fruits as well as complex garrigue, pepper, spice, and subtle leather nuances. These carry to a medium to full-bodied, round, layered, fruit-driven beauty with fine tannins and flawless balance.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
The 2020 Domaine de Bila-Haut by Michael Chapoutier v.i.t. CÔTES DU ROUSSILLON unleashes a medium to deep ruby color; deeply packed aromas of kirsch and wild herbs, with a distinct echo of an early morning walk in McLaren Park; rich, persistent and expansive on the palate; waves of dark, concentrated fruit build with intensity; long, lacy finish that lingers with purpose. Pair with grilled lamb chops with rosemary and garlic. (Tasted: 3/31/26, San Francisco, CA)
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James Suckling
A solid, well-built, flavorful and lively red with aromas of dark plums, dried leaves, Mediterranean herbs, baking spices and some meat. Full-bodied with plush tannins. There is an agile character at the center with a mineral frame. Well structured and focused, with a textured and well-weighted finish. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification. Drink or hold.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2020 Cotes du Roussillon Villages Latour de France Visitare Interiore Terrae is a blend of 60% Grenache (aged in concrete eggs) and 40% Syrah (aged in demi-muids). Attractive notions of blueberries and allspice mark the nose, while the full-bodied palate is rich, concentrated and velvety.
Barrel Sample: 91-93 -
Wine Spectator
Juicy plum and an intriguing range of dry spices define this inviting, complex red. Chalky mineral notes and energy keep everything in line, with charred herbs and sandalwood smoke wafting through. The tannins are nicely softened yet still provide a well-built frame. Grenache and Syrah. Drink now through 2028.
Domaine Bila-Haut is owned by the well known Rhone Valley Oenologist, Michel Chapoutier. The name refers to an old farm villa which was built high into the mountain slopes , among some old vineyards. The Domaine comprises 75 hectares of land cultivated under bio-dynamic farming techniques and is characterized by steep pebbly slopes rising from almost 150 meters above sea level. The soil has 3 components…Schiste, Gneiss and Clay, and the Grape varieties are Grenache, Carignan, and of course Syrah. The cool winters and very hot summers combined with little rain, and the drying Mistral breeze during the growing season is perfection for these varietals…in some respects better than in the Rhone Valley. The Domaine is located in the commune of Latour-de-France…just about as close as you can be to Spain, but still be located in France, with a great deal of history related to the Nights Templar, and the Cathar movement, hence the T in the title of the Domaine shaped like the Nights Templar Cross.The wines exhibit the distinctive pepper and spice of Syrah, but are bigger and rounder in the mouth, with great complexity coming from the Carignan and Grenache. Here is A Rhone producer getting the best out of the Terroir in Lanquedoc… a superb combination! And one of the best Wine Makers in France.
With bold fruit flavors and accents of sweet spice, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre form the base of the classic Rhône Red Blend, while Carignan, Cinsault and Counoise often come in to play. Though they originated from France’s southern Rhône Valley, with some creative interpretation, Rhône blends have also become popular in other countries. Somm Secret—Putting their own local spin on the Rhône Red Blend, those from Priorat often include Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. In California, it is not uncommon to see Petite Sirah make an appearance.
An appellation solely for dry red wines from Roussillon, Côtes du Roussillon-Villages is a step up in quality compared to, simply, Côtes du Roussillon. The area is in the northern third of Roussillon, bordered on its southern end by the Têt River, which runs precisely from west to east. Five villages can append their own name to the Côtes du Roussillon-Villages appellation name: Caramany, Latour de France, Lesquerde, Tautavel and the last, south of the Têt River, Les Aspres.
Côtes du Roussillon-Villages red wines are blends made from Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre and small amounts of Carignan, Cinsault and the lesser known, Lledoner Pelut (a relative of Grenache).