M. Chapoutier, Ermitage Le Pavillon 2017

vinous97

Reviewed by: Josh Raynolds

Brilliant purple. Highly expressive blackberry, cherry preserve, licorice pastille, exotic spice and potpourri scents are complemented by a strong mineral overtone. Seamless and broad on the palate, offering deeply concentrated black/blue fruit liqueur, cola and candied violet flavors that become more energetic as the wine opens up. Finishes extremely long with emphatic mineral, floral and dark fruit character, with youthful but well-knit tannins and superb tenacity.

vinous96

Reviewed by: Josh Raynolds

Deep, brilliant magenta. Displays powerful, expansive aromas of ripe black/blue fruits, incense and potpourri, with olive paste and exotic spice nuances building in the glass. Displays alluringly sweet, mineral- and spice-laced blackcurrant, boysenberry, spicecake and violet pastille flavors that deepen steadily through the midpalate and show outstanding delineation and back-end thrust.

robert_parker100

Reviewed by: Joe Czerwinski

Potentially perfect and quite likely a 30-year wine, Chapoutier's 2017 Ermitage le Pavillon makes a strong case for the vintage. From its compelling aromas of crushed stone, cassis, licorice and chocolate and the incredibly intense notes of salted licorice to the full-bodied, concentrated, chewy palate and tremendous length, there's absolutely nothing to find fault with.

robert_parker99

Reviewed by: Joe Czerwinski

Cassis and crushed stone join on the nose of the 2017 Ermitage le Pavillon. More austere than les Geffieux or le Méal, le Pavillon is rooted more firmly in granite, with crisply defined edges and firm tannins. It's impressive for sure, full-bodied, loaded with extract and almost creamy across the mid-palate, but ultimately it needs time. Give it 10 years to soften and develop a bit more charm—it has the concentrated dark fruit to carry it the distance.