Visit and tasting - The essential
Discover the secrets behind the wine making of Château Capion wines with a guided tour. Taste all wines from the vineyard.
Profile
Structure
Drinking window
Latest scored vintage 2022: best 2025 to 2034.
vintage3 yrs12 yrs14 yrs
Critic scores
| Critic | Vintage | Score |
|---|---|---|
| RVF reviewed 2025 | 2022 | 93/100 |
Scores as published by each critic for the vintage shown.
In the glass
Aroma: toasted notes, spice, chocolate, garrigue
Palate: dark fruit, thyme, incomparable velvet, fine tannin
Grenache-led Saint-Chinian from biodynamic schist parcels at altitude on steep hillsides. Velvety mouthfeel despite concentration and character.
What it pairs with
- Grilled red meat (côte de boeuf) Fine tannin and velvet texture meet grilled rib steak.More wines for beef and red meat →
- Slow-roasted lamb shoulder Spice and garrigue meet slow-cooked lamb and herbs.More wines for lamb →
- Aged Manchego Toasted notes and chocolate complement hard sheep cheese.More wines for aged hard cheese →
History
Borie la Vitarèle was founded in 1990 by Jean-François and Cathy Izarn, 18 hectares in AOC Saint-Chinian under organic and biodynamic farming since 1998. Les Schistes comes from old vines on very steep hillsides at relatively high altitudes.
- 1990Jean-François and Cathy Izarn found Borie la Vitarèle
- 1998Estate converted to organic and biodynamic farming
Facts
- Producer
- Borie La Vitarèle · visiting guide
- Grapes
- Grenache (60%), Syrah (35%), Carignan (5%)
- Classification
- AOC Saint-Chinian
- Oak
- Aged in demi-muid (large French oak barrels)
- ABV
- 13.5%
- Price
- €18-25 at retail
- Drinking window
- 3-12 from vintage
- First vintage
- 1995
- Biodynamic
- Biodynamic Practicing
- Organic
- ORGANIC CERTIFIED
- Vegan
- Yes (no animal-derived fining)
Frequently asked about Les Schistes
What does Les Schistes taste like?
Toasted notes, spice, chocolate and garrigue on the nose; dark fruit, thyme, incomparable velvet and fine tannin on the palate. Medium-bodied with a long finish.
When should I drink Les Schistes?
Drink between 3 and 12 years from vintage. The biodynamic schist cuvée rewards 45-60 minutes of decanting.
What food pairs with Les Schistes?
Grilled red meat is the canonical match; slow-roasted lamb shoulder and aged Manchego also work well.
Where is Les Schistes made?
From very steep biodynamic hillside parcels at altitude on Berlou-side schist at Borie la Vitarèle in Saint-Chinian.
Tags
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