Another perfect wine is the 2015 Ermitage le Meal Blanc. The most decadent, unctuous and layered in the lineup, with to-die-for notes of white currants, toasted nuts, celery seed and licorice, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a huge mid-palate and a refreshing, pure, yet blockbuster finish that just won’t quit. If I had to pick a desert island white, this might be it.
100 points, Wine Advocate (December 2016)
Another perfect wine is the 2015 Ermitage le Meal Blanc. The most decadent, unctuous and layered in the lineup, with to-die-for notes of white currants, toasted nuts, celery seed and licorice, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a huge mid-palate and a refreshing, pure, yet blockbuster finish that just won’t quit. If I had to pick a desert island white, this might be it.
100 points, Wine Advocate (December 2016)
Bright and pure, with a beautiful core of white peach, heather, yellow apple, star fruit and mirabelle plum notes backed by light citrus oil and verbena threads on the finish. Shows energy and tension throughout, with depth in reserve thanks to a long quinine echo at the end. Really stunning.
98 points, Wine Spectator (September 2018)
Some riper and more exotic, tropical fruits in the pawpaw zone with ripe mangoes and peaches, too. The palate has stony-mineral depth, all swathed in ripe-fruit flesh and flavor. Plenty of peach and papaya. Very focused finish and some handy restraint to this. From organically grown grapes.
95 points, JamesSuckling.com (July 2018)
Brilliant yellow. An exotically perfumed bouquet evokes poached pear, nectarine, vanilla, iodine and candied ginger, and a smoky mineral quality builds as the wine stretches out. Sappy, seamless and densely packed, offering palate-staining orchard and pit fruit flavors braced by a spine of dusty minerality and a hint of orange pith. Hangs on impressively on the mineral-laced finish, leaving behind smoky lees, iodine and ripe citrus fruit notes.
(94-96) points, Vinous (July 2017)
M.Chapoutier
M. Chapoutier is a renowned producer in the northern Rhône valley, producing a diverse array of benchmark wines from the region’s most prestigious appellations. The Chapoutier family has roots in the region dating from 1808; however it is under the current leadership of winemaker Michel Chapoutier that quality at the estate has soared. Since taking over the family firm, Michel Chapoutier has overseen the dramatic transformation of the estate’s vineyards to biodynamic practices. Winemaking philosophy has also changed significantly with a more sensitive oak regime now in place to allow the wine’s character to show through. The wines are also bottled unfined and unfiltered. M.Chapoutier is famous both for the "téte de cuvées" wines from old vine vineyards including La Mordorée and Hermitage La Pavillon and its range of rare Sélections Parcellaires; celebrated single-vineyard wines from the Northern Rhone’s most site, the Hill of Hermitage.
