Wine Advisor
M. Chapoutier, Ermitage de L'Oree Blanc 1998
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
The 1998 Hermitage Cuvee de l'Oree boasts an extraordinary bouquet of honey, minerals, and oranges that leaps from the glass. It is a wine of exhilarating power, richness and flavor dimension, yet there is no sense of heaviness. This gorgeous white should have an uncommonly long life of 30-50 years, but it is going to be a treat to drink in its youth. Despite the fact that this wine is barrel-fermented and aged in 100% new French oak, it is so concentrated that the wood is barely discernible. This is a white wine of legendary proportions. Importer: Paterno Imports, Lake Bluff, IL; tel. (847) 604-89000
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
The 1998 Ermitage Cuvee de l'Oree's explosive bouquet offers a liquid minerality, honeyed tropical fruits, peaches, and acacia flowers. Amazingly, the 100% new oak treatment has been totally absorbed. The wine is extremely full-bodied, fresh, and pure, with an immense palate presence as well as finish. Drink it over the next 4-5 years, or forget about it for a decade. Importer: Paterno Imports, Lake Bluff, IL; tel. (847) 604-89000
About the Producer
Founded in 1808, M. Chapoutier owns 175 hectares of vines in five appellations in the Rhone Valley and is now run by the energetic and brilliant Michel Chapoutier. Since Michel started running the estate, the quality of the winemaking has improved very quickly and the philosophy of winemaking has changed considerably. Michel Chapoutier's achievements caused an instant sensation in the winemaking world and he completely changed the way Chapoutier wines were made and the winemaking process, eventually making wines to rival those made by Marcel Guigal, one of the best winemakers in the Rhone Valley. The vineyards of Château Sapoutier range from the Rhone Valley to Châteauneuf-du-Pape, with a number of quality vineyards planted with Syrah, Grenache, Marsanne, Roussanne and other major grape varieties. The winery is "mono-varietal" (i.e. making wines from a single variety), for example, all Syrah for the Châteauneuf-du-Rotie wines, all Marsanne for the Hermitage whites and all Chateauneuf-du-Pape wines. The wines of Chateauneuf-du-Pape are all Grenache. Château Sapoutier has worked tirelessly to improve the quality of its wines, even though each single vineyard produces far more than the 500 cases of fine wine. Since 1989, Château Sapoutier has been using biodynamic farming and winemaking methods with the aim of producing wines that are the purest and closest to the natural terroir. Every decision, every step of the viticultural and winemaking process is designed to add to the terroir, varietal character and vintage identity of the wines. Only wild yeasts are used for fermentation and the wines are made in small oak barrels. The best red and white wines are not clarified or filtered before bottling.
