Wine Advisor
M. Chapoutier, Ermitage Le Meal Blanc 2013
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Jeb Dunnuck
Easily the finest vintage of this cuvee to date, the 2013 Ermitage le Meal Blanc doesn’t give an inch to the more heralded Cuvee de L’Orée or l’Ermite. Pure perfection in a glass, with awesome caramelized citrus, pineapple, crushed rock, toasted bread and buttered peach, it’s full-bodied, massive and concentrated on the palate, with incredible purity, richness and length. As with the other top whites here, it needs a year or two in the cellar and will have 2-3 decades of longevity.
Reviewed by: Josh Raynolds
Pale gold. Vibrant, mineral-accented citrus and orchard fruit aromas, along with suggestions of white flowers, iodine and smoky minerals. Stains the palate with fresh orange, pear and nectarine flavors that are lifted and given bite by a spicy gingery nuance. Concentrated and sharply focused, showing outstanding clarity and persistent mineral and floral notes on the finish.
Reviewed by: Josh Raynolds
Yellow-gold. Smoke- and mineral-tinged citrus and orchard fruit aromas start off spicy and reductive, with a sexy floral element emerging slowly; smells a lot like a wine from Coche-Dury. Sappy, palate-staining pear and tangerine flavors reach every corner of the mouth and are complicated by notes of fennel, iodine and honeysuckle. Fleshes out and becomes spicier on the finish, which hangs on with outstanding tenacity and a lingering floral quality. I'd love to match this stunner up against some grand cru white Burgundies.
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.
