Wine Advisor
M. Chapoutier, Ermitage L'Ermite Rouge 2016
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Joe Czerwinski
For some reason, I have more fruit descriptors in my notes for the 2016 Ermitage l'Ermite than the Le Pavillon, yet the former left me less impressed. Of course, that's all relative when talking about wines that are easily in the top 1% of all wines in the world. Scents of crushed stone are joined by blueberries, plums and cassis in this impressive, full-bodied wine. It's rich and concentrated, tannic as hell but endowed with enough fruit to see it through to 2025, when it should begin to approach drinkability.
Reviewed by: Joe Czerwinski
The full-bodied 2016 Ermitage l'Ermite is the biggest, most tannic of Chapoutier's current releases. Don't be fooled by the upfront aromas of confiture de cassis, this rich, chewy wine needs 6-7 years of cellaring to near approachability. But what a maturity that should prove to be, with hints of cedar framing ripe, mouthwatering fruit and savory overtones of black olive and licorice, all backed by the sensation of powdered granite on an almost endless finish.
Reviewed by: Josh Raynolds
Dark purple. Aromas of smoke-tinged dark berries, licorice and pungent flowers are sharpened by smoky mineral and spice flourishes. Spicy and deeply concentrated, offering energetic blackberry, cherry liqueur and violet pastille flavors, along with salty olive, cured meat and cracked pepper nuances. Fleshes out with air while maintaining vivacity and finishes impressively long and sweet, displaying excellent clarity, powerful tannins and suave florality.
Reviewed by: Josh Raynolds
Vivid, glass-staining purple. Potent, sharply delineated dark fruit preserve, Moroccan spice, licorice and exotic floral qualities on the hugely perfumed nose. Utterly stains the palate with sweet blueberry, cherry liqueur, spicecake and violet pastille flavors that show an uncanny blend of richness and energy. The floral and spice notes build steadily through an endless, gently tannic finish that shows superb clarity and mineral drive. This wine's sheer sex appeal will make it delicious relatively soon after release, but its depth and balance should easily carry it through its 30th birthday (if one has the patience) and probably longer.
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.
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