Wine Advisor
M. Chapoutier, Ermitage Les Greffieux 2021
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Joe Czerwinski
Quite forward and precocious, the 2021 Ermitage les Greffieux offers up scents of pencil shavings and red-berried fruit. Is it a little too cedary perhaps? Often the plushest of the parcel selections, it's medium to full-bodied, ripe and supple, with a long, silky finish tinged with cranberries.
Reviewed by: Stuart Pigott
Deep nose of wild berries and herbs plus raw meat, then with a little aeration a roasted meat character emerges. Incredibly focused on the enormously concentrated and compact palate. Sensational stony minerality and wild herb character at the enormously long and brilliant finish. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drinkable now, but best from 2026.
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.
