Wine Advisor
M. Chapoutier, Ermitage Le Meal Blanc 1998
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Tasting the 1998 Hermitage Le Meal is cause for celebration. It is a powerful, slightly nuanced as well as unctuously-textured example, yet it still manages to avoid heaviness. The wine possesses extraordinarily ripe, buttery, honeyed fruit with a liquified minerality intertwined with power, richness, and fabulous purity. 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. Look for the Hermitage Le Meal to last three decades or more. 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 Le Meal blanc offers aromas and flavors of butterscotch and caramel in its full-bodied, thick, juicy personality. It possesses liquid minerality, but also reveals oak. This is an amazingly layered wine! Anticipated maturity: 2007-2030. 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.
