FRANCE

The King of Rhone

With origins dating back to 1808, M. Chapoutier was early on one of the largest vineyard owners on the Hermitage hill. The “M” in the name is an old family tradition, as all family members’ names begin with the letter M. The current owner, Michel, took over the estate in 1989 and has elevated the company to one of the strongest brands in the wine world. Michel is a strong advocate for sustainable agriculture and has converted all his own vineyards to organic and biodynamic farming. He is also said to have more 100-point wines in Wine Spectator than any other winemaker. Behind the greatness of M. Chapoutier lies a series of top wines from Hermitage, but also the art of making exceptional wines from any other area in the Rhône, regardless of price range.