These Chapoutier wines are sometimes reviewed by my colleagues David Schildknect in his Languedoc-Roussillon report and Lisa Perrotti-Brown in her reviews of Australian wines, so I will just list the wines, my score, and the region from which they emerge. They are of very high quality and deserve readers’ attention. Hopefully my prose has convinced more than a handful of readers to try these remarkable wines from one of the most fascinating and compelling personalities in the entire wine world, and one dedicated to the highest quality.Importer: Terlato Wines International, Lake Bluff, IL; tel. (847) 604-8900

The 2007 Mas de la Barben Les Lauzieres exhibits the vintage’s sweet tannin, a more elevated level of glycerin, and abundant amounts of rich black raspberry and cassis fruit. It is a round, sexy, medium to full-bodied, long, lush, fairly priced effort that may merit an outstanding score, and is capable of lasting 5-6 years. The following wines are actually from areas for which David Schildknect is responsible (the Languedoc and Roussillon), but since I tasted them, I will include them in this report. There are some good values as well as outstanding efforts from the Coteaux du Languedoc estate that Chapoutier farms (and, I believe, is part owner). Chapoutier’s estate in the Roussillon is the Domaine de Bila Haut.Importer: Terlato Wines International, Lake Bluff, IL; tel. (847) 604-8900

The 2006 Mas de la Barben Les Lauzieres is dominated by its Grenache component. Licorice, raspberry, garrigue, and earth are all present in this wine. Revealing soft, medium-bodied flavors, a robust constitution, and plenty of spice and earth, it should be consumed over the next 4-5 years. The following wines are actually from areas for which David Schildknect is responsible (the Languedoc and Roussillon), but since I tasted them, I will include them in this report. There are some good values as well as outstanding efforts from the Coteaux du Languedoc estate that Chapoutier farms (and, I believe, is part owner). Chapoutier’s estate in the Roussillon is the Domaine de Bila Haut.Importer: Terlato Wines International, Lake Bluff, IL; tel. (847) 604-8900

The 2004 Les Lauzieres possesses sweet fruit, medium to full body, and resiny pine forest, garrigue, pepper, and kirsch notes.

The 2003 Les Lauzieres, a blend of 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah, exhibits peppery, herbes de Provence notes intermixed with black currants, sweet cherries, spice, and earth. Drink this medium-bodied red over the next 3-4 years.