Wine Advisor
M. Chapoutier, Ermitage Les Greffieux 2022
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Yohan Castaing
Wild dark berries, dark cherries, spices, rose and lilac mingled with lovely peppery notes introduce the 2022 Ermitage Les Greffieux, a dense and concentrated, full-bodied and structured wine with a fleshy core of fruit, a harmonious, balanced palate and a long, mineral and peppery finish, despite a slightly green touch. Matured 80% in large barrels, 25% of which are new, this is somber yet balanced Hermitage.
Reviewed by: James Suckling
So much texture and so many layers. On the nose, this has aromas of mulberries, black cherries, tar, bark and roasted game. It’s full-bodied, showing ultrafine tannins. Mineral and focused with some chalkiness. There’s a bit of raw cocoa character to the dense core of berries and spices. Flavorful and intense but in control. Long finish. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink from 2027.
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.
