Wine Advisor
M. Chapoutier, Ermitage Les Greffieux 2014
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Jeb Dunnuck
Starting off the four selection parcellaires releases and from a lieu-dit located just at the bottom of the Le Méal lieu-dit, the 2014 Ermitage les Greffieux was completely destemmed, vinified all in concrete (as are the vast majority of Michel’s wines) and aged in a combination of 25% new barrels and demi-muids. Inky black/blue colored, full-bodied, rich and sexy with a beautifully expansive, mouth filling texture, it has classic Hermitage notes of lead pencil, liquid rock, black olive and assorted darker fruits. It’s shockingly good in the vintage and will have two or more decades of prime drinking.
Reviewed by: Jeb Dunnuck
The 2014 Ermitage Les Greffieux offers a big mouthful of fruit as well as a more gamey profile in its black olive, beef blood, smoke and ripe dark fruits. This cuvée comes from the middle of the slope (which is slightly higher up in the Greffieux parcel) and is aged in 20% new oak. Drink this full-bodied, meaty, rich and unctuous beauty anytime over the coming two decades.
Reviewed by: James Suckling
A spectacular Ermitage for the vintage, it’s ample, chiseled, vibrant, textured and layered. The nose has so much intensity and character, with crushed berries, grilled beef, smoke, bark, undergrowth, roasted peppercorns and hints of polished leather. It’s medium-bodied with finely grained tannins and bright acidity, yet it’s large and rather intense. Vertical succulence brings freshness to the spicy, dense and textured mid-palate. Velvety with restrained power. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification. Drink or hold.
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.
