2021 M. Chapoutier Ermitage 'Le Meal' Rouge
Pre-arrival Offer: Arriving February 2025
This legendary wine is only produced with grapes coming from the Méal hillside. This slope is composed of high terraces of shingles and clay, with 50 year average vine age.
100 points - James Suckling
Hypnotic nose of the perfectly ripe wild berries and the most aromatic wild herbs plus the smoke from autumn bonfires. Already the first impression on the expansive and extremely dynamic palate is extraordinary, but then the mineral turbo ignites and this just blows you away in the incredibly long, bright finish. Limited production. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink or hold.
93-95 points - Rob Parker’s Wine Advocate
Chapoutier's 2021 Ermitage le Méal, like a couple of the other parcel selections this vintage, seems just a bit cedary compared to other recent vintages. Red raspberries and ripe cherries lead the way in this medium to full-bodied effort. It's silky and refined, with some drying wood tannins and crisp, cranberry-ish acids on the finish. It requires a palate realignment after the past few years. No matter how much time one spends with Michel Chapoutier, he always manages to say something surprising. As an owner of biodynamically farmed properties in the Rhône, a participant in several joint ventures, a proprietor in numerous wine regions, owner of a large négociant business and a former president of Inter Rhône (the region's trade body), he has a global perspective that's probably unmatched in the Rhône.
95 points - Decanter
Very immediate and fruity in style and a touch balsamic. Quite sappy acidity -- really intense in fact. Fairly introverted at the time of tasting, but the tannins are bold and powerful and demand long ageing. Vines are around 50 years old, and the wine is fermented in concrete, then aged in recently used oak barrels for around 14 months.(MW)
Pre-arrival Offer: Arriving February 2025
This legendary wine is only produced with grapes coming from the Méal hillside. This slope is composed of high terraces of shingles and clay, with 50 year average vine age.
100 points - James Suckling
Hypnotic nose of the perfectly ripe wild berries and the most aromatic wild herbs plus the smoke from autumn bonfires. Already the first impression on the expansive and extremely dynamic palate is extraordinary, but then the mineral turbo ignites and this just blows you away in the incredibly long, bright finish. Limited production. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink or hold.
93-95 points - Rob Parker’s Wine Advocate
Chapoutier's 2021 Ermitage le Méal, like a couple of the other parcel selections this vintage, seems just a bit cedary compared to other recent vintages. Red raspberries and ripe cherries lead the way in this medium to full-bodied effort. It's silky and refined, with some drying wood tannins and crisp, cranberry-ish acids on the finish. It requires a palate realignment after the past few years. No matter how much time one spends with Michel Chapoutier, he always manages to say something surprising. As an owner of biodynamically farmed properties in the Rhône, a participant in several joint ventures, a proprietor in numerous wine regions, owner of a large négociant business and a former president of Inter Rhône (the region's trade body), he has a global perspective that's probably unmatched in the Rhône.
95 points - Decanter
Very immediate and fruity in style and a touch balsamic. Quite sappy acidity -- really intense in fact. Fairly introverted at the time of tasting, but the tannins are bold and powerful and demand long ageing. Vines are around 50 years old, and the wine is fermented in concrete, then aged in recently used oak barrels for around 14 months.(MW)
Pre-arrival Offer: Arriving February 2025
This legendary wine is only produced with grapes coming from the Méal hillside. This slope is composed of high terraces of shingles and clay, with 50 year average vine age.
100 points - James Suckling
Hypnotic nose of the perfectly ripe wild berries and the most aromatic wild herbs plus the smoke from autumn bonfires. Already the first impression on the expansive and extremely dynamic palate is extraordinary, but then the mineral turbo ignites and this just blows you away in the incredibly long, bright finish. Limited production. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink or hold.
93-95 points - Rob Parker’s Wine Advocate
Chapoutier's 2021 Ermitage le Méal, like a couple of the other parcel selections this vintage, seems just a bit cedary compared to other recent vintages. Red raspberries and ripe cherries lead the way in this medium to full-bodied effort. It's silky and refined, with some drying wood tannins and crisp, cranberry-ish acids on the finish. It requires a palate realignment after the past few years. No matter how much time one spends with Michel Chapoutier, he always manages to say something surprising. As an owner of biodynamically farmed properties in the Rhône, a participant in several joint ventures, a proprietor in numerous wine regions, owner of a large négociant business and a former president of Inter Rhône (the region's trade body), he has a global perspective that's probably unmatched in the Rhône.
95 points - Decanter
Very immediate and fruity in style and a touch balsamic. Quite sappy acidity -- really intense in fact. Fairly introverted at the time of tasting, but the tannins are bold and powerful and demand long ageing. Vines are around 50 years old, and the wine is fermented in concrete, then aged in recently used oak barrels for around 14 months.(MW)
DETAILS
PRODUCER - M. Chapoutier
VINTAGE - 2021
VARIETAL - Syrah
COUNTRY - France
REGION - Rhone Valley
BOTTLE SIZE - 750ml
