Domaine de Bila Haut

The story

The Latin Name

Michel Chapoutier gives the Latour de France red the Latin name Visitare Interiore Terrae, abbreviated V.I.T. The phrase means 'Visit the interior of the earth'. The wine is a blend of old vine Grenache and Syrah from the garrigue scrubland. Its full name appears as Latour de France Visitare Interiore Terrae, joining the commune name, the Latin phrase and the Mediterranean scrubland in one bottle title.

From the atlas

Domaine de Bila Haut

Domaine de Bila Haut farms biodynamic vineyards in Latour de France, making peppery Roussillon reds and mineral whites from Grenache and Syrah led plantings.

At A Glance

The Producer

In the Agly Valley, Domaine de Bila Haut makes red and white wines from the commune of Latour de France within the Côtes du Roussillon appellation. Biodynamic farming covers multiple parcels, while fermentation and ageing use concrete and Clayver vessels.

The red range centres on the pepper and spice of Syrah, with Grenache and Carignan adding dark fruit, earth and savoury depth. The whites use Grenache Blanc and Grenache Gris, producing wines described as bright, fresh, mineral and saline.

Place

Latour de France is the domaine's home commune in the Agly Valley. The Côtes du Roussillon appellation supplies the regional address, while Latour de France appears in the name of the domaine's V.I.T. red.

The valley holds several parcels under one domaine. Red wines carry the warmth and savoury character associated with Grenache, Syrah and Carignan, while the white wines use the two Grenache varieties that give Bila Haut its mineral white style.

Soil And Site

The vineyard sits between 200 and 250 metres above sea level, 40 kilometres from the sea. The climate is Mediterranean, with virtually no growing season rainfall and strong Mistral winds.

The ground changes between schist, gneiss and clay limestone. The wines carry mineral notes, and the whites can finish with a salty character.

Story

In 1999, Michel Chapoutier bought 50 hectares in Latour de France after becoming convinced by the quality of the terroir. The estate later expanded to approximately 100 hectares across multiple parcels, all farmed biodynamically.

The purchase changed the scale of the property without changing its location. Bila Haut remains rooted in the Agly Valley, with the enlarged holding supplying red and white wines from the domaine's core grape varieties.

Vineyards And Cellar

The vines are more than 40 years old and are carefully managed for low yields. Biodynamic farming is used across the parcels.

Fermentation takes place in concrete. Ageing uses concrete and Clayver vessels, with the cellar relying on containers that preserve the fruit and mineral character of the wines without adding an oak flavour to every cuvée.

Wines

The range divides into red and white wines. The reds use Grenache, Syrah and Carignan, with Occultum Lapidem presented as a Syrah dominant red and Latour de France V.I.T. as a named Latour de France bottling.

The whites use Grenache Blanc and Grenache Gris. Chrysopée Blanc 2021 is composed of 90% Grenache Gris and 10% Grenache Blanc, placing the grey grape at the centre of the white range.

In The Glass

The reds show pepper, spice and savoury complexity, with concentrated dark fruit, earth and mineral notes. In the mouth they are bigger and rounder, with the Grenache and Carignan contributing breadth around the Syrah character.

The whites are bright, juicy, fresh and mineral, with white peach and pear fruit. Chrysopée Blanc opens with fleshy apricot and peach, followed by floral notes. Its palate has a fresh attack, medium body, concentration and length.

A Bottle To Understand It

Choose Chrysopée Blanc 2021. It is made from 90% Grenache Gris and 10% Grenache Blanc, so the bottle places the white grape balance directly on the label.

The cuvée gives the range a white starting point built around Grenache Gris, with Grenache Blanc providing the supporting portion. It sits apart from the Syrah dominant red wines and shows the domaine's white grape work in a single named wine.

Anecdote

Michel Chapoutier gives the Latour de France red the Latin name Visitare Interiore Terrae, abbreviated V.I.T. The phrase means 'Visit the interior of the earth'. The wine is a blend of old vine Grenache and Syrah from the garrigue scrubland. Its full name appears as Latour de France Visitare Interiore Terrae, joining the commune name, the Latin phrase and the vineyard's Mediterranean scrubland in one bottle title.

Final Word

Domaine de Bila Haut works in Latour de France with biodynamic parcels, schist, gneiss and clay limestone, making concrete fermented reds and whites from the Grenache family, Syrah and Carignan.

Sources

1. https://www.mtouton.com/producers/domaine-de-bila-haut 2. https://wineanorak.com/2025/12/24/roussillon-exploration-3-bila-haut/ 3. https://www.nataliemaclean.com/wine-reviews/m-chapoutier-bila-haut-occultum-lapidem-2020/353408 4. https://www.mtouton.com/products/france/languedoc-roussillon/cotes-du-roussillon-villages/13623-2020/domaine-de-bila-haut 5. https://www.mtouton.com/products/france/languedoc-roussillon/14983-2021/domaine-de-bila-haut-chrysopee-blanc