When M. Chapoutier sent me their Monier de la Sizeranne 200 Years of Braille edition, I immediately ran my fingers over the embossed dots on the label. This wasn’t just another premium Hermitage—it was wine with a story that extends beyond the glass, honoring both winemaking tradition and genuine accessibility.
A Pioneer in Wine Accessibility
Since 1996, M. Chapoutier has been the first major wine house to systematically translate all its labels into Braille, making fine wine accessible to visually impaired enthusiasts. This special 2022 Hermitage release celebrates the bicentennial of Braille while paying tribute to Maurice Monier de la Sizeranne, a blind advocate who championed accessibility in early 20th-century France.
In an industry often obsessed with visual aesthetics—from label design to color assessment—Chapoutier’s commitment stands out as genuinely groundbreaking. But does this accessibility focus compromise the wine itself? Let’s find out.
Hermitage’s Diverse Terroirs in One Bottle
This wine showcases 100% Syrah from three distinct Hermitage sectors: Bessards, Méal, and Greffieux. Each contributes unique characteristics drawn from the hill’s remarkable geological diversity. Terroir—the combination of soil, climate, and topography that gives wine its character—varies dramatically across Hermitage’s compact slope.
You’ll find a blend incorporating sedimentary soils including alluvium (sediment deposited by ancient rivers), loess (mineral-rich wind-blown silt), and poudingue (a conglomerate rock with rounded pebbles), alongside decomposing granite. This geological complexity within such a small area is what makes Hermitage legendary, though blending multiple parcels inevitably means you’re getting a composite picture rather than the singular expression of Chapoutier’s top single-vineyard bottlings.
From Vine to Bottle
Hand-harvested at optimal maturity, the grapes undergo traditional vinification in small concrete vats after destemming. Fermentation proceeds with indigenous yeasts—wild yeasts naturally present on the grapes and in the cellar—with moderate sulfur use. Maceration, the crucial period when grape skins remain in contact with juice to extract color and tannins, lasts three to four weeks. The wine then ages approximately 18 months in a combination of barrels and small wooden casks, with 15% new oak.
What I Found in the Glass
When I opened this Hermitage, it poured a deep garnet red. The nose opens with bright red fruit—raspberry and blackcurrant—complemented by subtle licorice notes. On the palate, you’ll discover the roundness and elegance you’d expect from quality Hermitage, with concentrated yet gentle tannins creating a supple texture.
However, honesty requires noting some limitations. The finish, while pleasant with its blackcurrant, raspberry, and pepper spice, is moderately short compared to Hermitage’s most age-worthy examples. The 15% new oak also makes its presence known—not overwhelmingly, but enough that oak purists might find it slightly intrusive. At this price point, some wine lovers might expect more depth and cellaring potential, particularly when compared to Chapoutier’s single-parcel Hermitage releases.
That said, this is eminently food-friendly wine. Chapoutier suggests grilled beef flank steak with creamy pepper sauce and roasted sweet potatoes—a pairing that would beautifully complement the wine’s fruit concentration and spicy notes.
Beyond the Bottle
The Monier de la Sizeranne 200 Years of Braille edition ultimately succeeds on two levels. As a wine, it offers an approachable, well-made Hermitage that showcases Northern Rhône Syrah’s classic character without demanding a decade of cellaring. As a statement, it reminds us that fine wine should be experiential luxury accessible to everyone.
Whether you read this label with your fingertips or your eyes, you’re encountering a producer who believes great wine transcends barriers—even if this particular bottle doesn’t quite scale the heights of Hermitage’s most legendary single parcels.
