Rhône
The Rhône Valley, located in southeastern France, is renowned for its exceptional fine wines. With its diverse terroir, rich history, and dedication to quality winemaking, the Rhône Valley offers a captivating selection of wines that embody the region's elegance, complexity, and distinctive character.
The Rhône Valley boasts its own iconic vineyards and wineries, including Château de Beaucastel, Domaine Guigal, and Chapoutier, which are celebrated for producing exceptional wines that showcase the region's unique terroir and winemaking expertise.
The Rhône Valley is renowned for its red wines, particularly in the northern part of the region. Syrah reigns as the dominant grape variety, producing intense and structured wines. Appellations such as Côte-Rôtie, Hermitage, and Cornas are known for their robust and age-worthy reds, often displaying notes of black fruits, spice, and earthiness. Famous vineyards such as La Landonne, La Mouline, and Les Bessards are revered for their exceptional expressions of Syrah.
In the southern Rhône Valley, Grenache takes centre stage, contributing to the region's bold and fruit-forward red blends. The renowned appellation of Châteauneuf-du-Pape is famous for its rich and full-bodied red wines, often featuring a blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre. Vineyards like Château de Beaucastel, Clos des Papes, and Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe produce remarkable wines that showcase the region's commitment to excellence.
The Rhône Valley is also celebrated for its white wines, particularly in the northern part of the region. Viognier, Marsanne, and Roussanne are the key grape varieties, producing aromatic and complex whites. Appellations like Condrieu and Hermitage produce exceptional white wines known for their floral aromas, stone fruit flavors, and vibrant acidity.
Rhône
| Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
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Rhone | 1 | 98 (WA) |
Inc. TAX
€567.24 |
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Wine Advocate (98)My favorite of the white Hermitages, the 2016 Ermitage l'Ermite Blanc boasts aromas of gently toasted marshmallow and ripe pear. It's full-bodied and generous, with a rich, grainy texture balanced by brine and zest notes. While it can be enjoyed now, my feeling is that it will get better over the next decade, then drink well for at least another decade after that. |
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Rhone | 1 | 100 (WA) |
Inc. TAX
€2,828.63 |
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Wine Advocate (100)As in 2016, my favorite of the white parcel selections this year is the 2017 Ermitage l'Ermite Blanc (231 cases produced), as it perfectly balances richness and power with refinement and structure. Toasted brioche and citrus marmalade, honey and truffle notes deliver sheer full-bodied, mouth-filling decadence, supported by austere notes of crushed granite, zesty grapefruit rind and cooling brine. Huge and intense yet refreshing, it's the essence of granite-grown Marsanne. |
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Rhone | 1 | 100 (JD) |
Inc. TAX
€2,234.63 |
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Jeb Dunnuck (100)Another truly flawless wine from this dream team is the 2018 Ermitage L’Ermite Blanc, which comes from a vineyard located at the top of Hermitage Hill and was brought up in 20-25% new demi-muids. Offering a magical bouquet of liqueur of rock, quince, poached pears, orange blossom, and honeysuckle, it's a powerful, super-rich, expressive, full-bodied white that could come from nowhere else in the world. It's approachable today (it needs plenty of air) yet won't hit prime for another 7-8 years or so. |
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Rhone | 2 | 100 (WA) |
Inc. TAX
€2,600.63 |
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Wine Advocate (100)Since I reviewed the 2019 Ermitage l'Ermite Blanc last year (98+), I had some doubts about spending the time to re-review it. But one taste had me transfixed. Hints of crushed stone and subtle oak appear on the nose, backed by waves of honeyed pear and pineapple, plus enough invigorating citrus to provide a sense of freshness. Full-bodied and rich without being heavy, this has come into its own, being incredibly long, balanced and ethereal on the finish. Amazing stuff! |
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Rhone | 4 | - |
Inc. TAX
€2,443.68 |
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Rhone | 1 | 92+ (VN) |
Inc. TAX
€1,923.58 |
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Vinous (92+)Deep ruby-red. Knockout aromas of cassis, leather, tobacco, bacon fat and barbecued meat. Dense, quite dry and suave, with a compelling note of woodsmoke. Still quite tightly wound. Really builds toward the back end, which features big, broad tannins and subtle, complex flavors. This has the tangy brightness of the best '98s from the Northern Rhone. |
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Rhone | 1 | 93+ (VN) |
Inc. TAX
€1,535.75 |
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Vinous (93+)Full ruby-red. Granitic aromas of gunflint, minerals and licorice. Lush, rich and seamless but very backward, with very dark flavors of blackberry, licorice and spice. Less obviously sweet than the extraordinary Pavillon bottling, but this, too, dusts the entire palate. A wine of great structure and power. Explosive, gripping finish. |
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Rhone | 1 | 98 (WA) |
Inc. TAX
€1,177.68 |
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Wine Advocate (98)Similar to the '12 and showing the generosity and warmth of this site, the 2011 Ermitage le Meal is another sexy wine that's just hard to resist. Full-bodied and concentrated, it's slightly more red fruit-driven with black raspberries, crushed flowers, sweet spice and roasted herb aromas and flavors all emerging from the glass. One of the denser, more concentrated 2011s out there, it still shows the 2011 extroverted and straight-up hedonistic character and will drink well for another 20+ years. |
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Rhone | 1 | 97 (WA) |
Inc. TAX
€791.03 |
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Wine Advocate (97)A classic expression of the gorgeous, sunbaked vineyard, the 2013 Ermitage le Méal is as ripe, sexy and voluptuous as they come in the vintage. Black raspberries, jammy blackberries, licorice, toasted spice and crushed flowers are just some of the nuances in the bouquet. Full-bodied, mouth-filling with ripe tannin, plenty of mid-palate density (which can be lacking in some wines in the vintage) and with a great finish, it has the balance and texture to dish out pleasure today, but will have 25 or more years of overall longevity. |
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Rhone | 1 | 100 (JD) |
Inc. TAX
€1,419.59 |
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Jeb Dunnuck (100)A perfect wine, the 2015 Ermitage Le Méal offers straight-up otherworldly notes of black raspberries, toasted spices, licorice, scorched earth and flowers. With a huge, unctuous profile on the palate, a stacked mid-palate, sweet, sweet tannin and awesome purity, it's as good as it gets. This cuvée is always one of the more forward, sexy wines in the lineup, but it still needs 4-6 years of bottle age and will keep for 2-3 decades. |
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Rhone | 1 | 97 (WA) |
Inc. TAX
€257.80 |
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Wine Advocate (97)Attractively bright and fresh on the nose, the 2016 Ermitage le Meal is full-bodied yet creamy and supple in feel. Because of its greater level of ripeness, Chapoutier explains that it's aged in 50% demi-muids to lessen the oak influence, and indeed the wine isn't cedary at all. Espresso and mocha shadings give a savory cast to the bold blackberry fruit, while the texture turns to pure velvet on the long finish. |
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Rhone | 12 | 100 (WA) |
Inc. TAX
€1,196.39 |
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Wine Advocate (100)Always the earliest-ripening portion of the Chapoutier holdings on the Hermitage hill, the 2017 Ermitage le Méal is a complete standout. Crème de framboise notes remain fresh and lively throughout, joined by hints of blueberry, baking spices and vanilla, while the tannins are silky, the mouthfeel generous and the overall impression is one of great seductiveness and elegance. |
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Rhone | 3 | 97-99 (JD) |
Inc. TAX
€1,102.79 |
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Jeb Dunnuck (97-99)Also inky colored, the 2018 Ermitage Le Méal is another monster of a wine that has over-the-top notes of black raspberries, cassis, graphite, new leather, ground pepper, and incense. Massive, rich, full-bodied, and about as opulent as they come, it's another borderline perfect wine in the making. |
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Rhone | 1 | 97-99 (JD) |
Inc. TAX
€899.03 |
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Jeb Dunnuck (97-99)Massive red and black fruits, smoked meats, graphite, asphalt, licorice, and ground pepper notes all soar from the 2019 Ermitage Le Méal, which is 100% Syrah from the more loess soils and full-south facing Méal lieu-dit. This puppy is locked and loaded on the palate, with a huge, rich, mouthfilling style, ripe tannins, and a blockbuster of a finish. |
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Rhone | 1 | 95-97 (VN) |
Inc. TAX
€1,467.59 |
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Vinous (95-97)Full purple color. Deeply pitched kirsch, cassis, licorice, olive, cured meat and floral aromas are sharpened by suggestions of black pepper and smoky minerals. Broad and weighty in the mouth, offering intense bitter cherry, dark berry compote, fruitcake and espresso flavors and a sweet hint of candied violet. Chewy tannins add grip to an impressively long, smoky finish that leaves kirsch, licorice, espresso and floral notes behind. This one is built for the long haul. |
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Rhone | 1 | - |
Inc. TAX
€254.35 |
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Rhone | 4 | - |
Inc. TAX
€631.06 |
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Rhone | 36 | - |
Inc. TAX
€1,071.34 |
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Rhone | 1 | 95 (WA) |
Inc. TAX
€253.88 |
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Wine Advocate (95)One of the highest points in Chapoutier's lineup this year, the 2022 Ermitage Le Méal evokes aromas of violet, lilac, spices, pepper and dark berries. Medium to full-bodied, concentrated and layered, it's more charming than Monier de la Sizeranne with a fleshier core of fruit and more harmonious, velvety tannins, concluding with a floral, ethereal finish. Delicately crafted and refined on the palate, this wine was fermented with 15% whole bunches and aged in a significant proportion of large barrels, 25% of which were new. |
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Rhone | 24 | 95 (WA) |
Inc. TAX
€1,116.48 |
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Wine Advocate (95)One of the highest points in Chapoutier's lineup this year, the 2022 Ermitage Le Méal evokes aromas of violet, lilac, spices, pepper and dark berries. Medium to full-bodied, concentrated and layered, it's more charming than Monier de la Sizeranne with a fleshier core of fruit and more harmonious, velvety tannins, concluding with a floral, ethereal finish. Delicately crafted and refined on the palate, this wine was fermented with 15% whole bunches and aged in a significant proportion of large barrels, 25% of which were new. |
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Rhone | 1 | - |
Inc. TAX
€1,767.58 |
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Rhone | 1 | 98 (WA) |
Inc. TAX
€1,143.34 |
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Wine Advocate (98)Bigger and richer than the '01, the sensational 2000 Ermitage le Meal Blanc knocks it out of the park with its buttered peach, wood smoke, orange liqueur, honey and hazelnut-driven bouquet. A wine that should make any Hermitage Blanc lover's knees weak, this full-bodied, voluptuous and concentrated effort has fabulous purity and a blockbuster finish. Totally hedonistic, it still has another 2-3 decades of longevity. |
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|
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Rhone | 1 | 99 (WA) |
Inc. TAX
€233.95 |
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Wine Advocate (99)From a warm site and a hot vintage, the 2009 Ermitage le Meal Blanc was harvested on the August 28, and aged in 100% new French oak. Flirting with perfection and a full-bore, exotic, almost over-the-top expression of Marsanne, it has less minerality than the 2010, yet more of everything else with boatloads of caramelized fruits, buttered citrus, white flowers, honey and crushed rocks all soaring from the glass. Rich, layered, exuberant, unctuous and exotic, with stunning freshness despite it's thickness and weight, drink this incredible white anytime over the coming 30-40 years. |
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| Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Rhone | 1 | 98 (WA) |
In Bond
€469.00 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (98)My favorite of the white Hermitages, the 2016 Ermitage l'Ermite Blanc boasts aromas of gently toasted marshmallow and ripe pear. It's full-bodied and generous, with a rich, grainy texture balanced by brine and zest notes. While it can be enjoyed now, my feeling is that it will get better over the next decade, then drink well for at least another decade after that. |
|||||||||
|
|
Rhone | 1 | 100 (WA) |
In Bond
€2,335.00 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (100)As in 2016, my favorite of the white parcel selections this year is the 2017 Ermitage l'Ermite Blanc (231 cases produced), as it perfectly balances richness and power with refinement and structure. Toasted brioche and citrus marmalade, honey and truffle notes deliver sheer full-bodied, mouth-filling decadence, supported by austere notes of crushed granite, zesty grapefruit rind and cooling brine. Huge and intense yet refreshing, it's the essence of granite-grown Marsanne. |
|||||||||
|
|
Rhone | 1 | 100 (JD) |
In Bond
€1,840.00 |
|||||
Jeb Dunnuck (100)Another truly flawless wine from this dream team is the 2018 Ermitage L’Ermite Blanc, which comes from a vineyard located at the top of Hermitage Hill and was brought up in 20-25% new demi-muids. Offering a magical bouquet of liqueur of rock, quince, poached pears, orange blossom, and honeysuckle, it's a powerful, super-rich, expressive, full-bodied white that could come from nowhere else in the world. It's approachable today (it needs plenty of air) yet won't hit prime for another 7-8 years or so. |
|||||||||
|
|
Rhone | 2 | 100 (WA) |
In Bond
€2,145.00 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (100)Since I reviewed the 2019 Ermitage l'Ermite Blanc last year (98+), I had some doubts about spending the time to re-review it. But one taste had me transfixed. Hints of crushed stone and subtle oak appear on the nose, backed by waves of honeyed pear and pineapple, plus enough invigorating citrus to provide a sense of freshness. Full-bodied and rich without being heavy, this has come into its own, being incredibly long, balanced and ethereal on the finish. Amazing stuff! |
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|
|
Rhone | 4 | - |
In Bond
€2,015.00 |
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|
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Rhone | 1 | 92+ (VN) |
In Bond
€1,580.00 |
|||||
Vinous (92+)Deep ruby-red. Knockout aromas of cassis, leather, tobacco, bacon fat and barbecued meat. Dense, quite dry and suave, with a compelling note of woodsmoke. Still quite tightly wound. Really builds toward the back end, which features big, broad tannins and subtle, complex flavors. This has the tangy brightness of the best '98s from the Northern Rhone. |
|||||||||
|
|
Rhone | 1 | 93+ (VN) |
In Bond
€1,265.00 |
|||||
Vinous (93+)Full ruby-red. Granitic aromas of gunflint, minerals and licorice. Lush, rich and seamless but very backward, with very dark flavors of blackberry, licorice and spice. Less obviously sweet than the extraordinary Pavillon bottling, but this, too, dusts the entire palate. A wine of great structure and power. Explosive, gripping finish. |
|||||||||
|
|
Rhone | 1 | 98 (WA) |
In Bond
€960.00 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (98)Similar to the '12 and showing the generosity and warmth of this site, the 2011 Ermitage le Meal is another sexy wine that's just hard to resist. Full-bodied and concentrated, it's slightly more red fruit-driven with black raspberries, crushed flowers, sweet spice and roasted herb aromas and flavors all emerging from the glass. One of the denser, more concentrated 2011s out there, it still shows the 2011 extroverted and straight-up hedonistic character and will drink well for another 20+ years. |
|||||||||
|
|
Rhone | 1 | 97 (WA) |
In Bond
€637.00 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (97)A classic expression of the gorgeous, sunbaked vineyard, the 2013 Ermitage le Méal is as ripe, sexy and voluptuous as they come in the vintage. Black raspberries, jammy blackberries, licorice, toasted spice and crushed flowers are just some of the nuances in the bouquet. Full-bodied, mouth-filling with ripe tannin, plenty of mid-palate density (which can be lacking in some wines in the vintage) and with a great finish, it has the balance and texture to dish out pleasure today, but will have 25 or more years of overall longevity. |
|||||||||
|
|
Rhone | 1 | 100 (JD) |
In Bond
€1,160.00 |
|||||
Jeb Dunnuck (100)A perfect wine, the 2015 Ermitage Le Méal offers straight-up otherworldly notes of black raspberries, toasted spices, licorice, scorched earth and flowers. With a huge, unctuous profile on the palate, a stacked mid-palate, sweet, sweet tannin and awesome purity, it's as good as it gets. This cuvée is always one of the more forward, sexy wines in the lineup, but it still needs 4-6 years of bottle age and will keep for 2-3 decades. |
|||||||||
|
|
Rhone | 1 | 97 (WA) |
In Bond
€211.00 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (97)Attractively bright and fresh on the nose, the 2016 Ermitage le Meal is full-bodied yet creamy and supple in feel. Because of its greater level of ripeness, Chapoutier explains that it's aged in 50% demi-muids to lessen the oak influence, and indeed the wine isn't cedary at all. Espresso and mocha shadings give a savory cast to the bold blackberry fruit, while the texture turns to pure velvet on the long finish. |
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|
|
Rhone | 12 | 100 (WA) |
In Bond
€974.00 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (100)Always the earliest-ripening portion of the Chapoutier holdings on the Hermitage hill, the 2017 Ermitage le Méal is a complete standout. Crème de framboise notes remain fresh and lively throughout, joined by hints of blueberry, baking spices and vanilla, while the tannins are silky, the mouthfeel generous and the overall impression is one of great seductiveness and elegance. |
|||||||||
|
|
Rhone | 3 | 97-99 (JD) |
In Bond
€896.00 |
|||||
Jeb Dunnuck (97-99)Also inky colored, the 2018 Ermitage Le Méal is another monster of a wine that has over-the-top notes of black raspberries, cassis, graphite, new leather, ground pepper, and incense. Massive, rich, full-bodied, and about as opulent as they come, it's another borderline perfect wine in the making. |
|||||||||
|
|
Rhone | 1 | 97-99 (JD) |
In Bond
€727.00 |
|||||
Jeb Dunnuck (97-99)Massive red and black fruits, smoked meats, graphite, asphalt, licorice, and ground pepper notes all soar from the 2019 Ermitage Le Méal, which is 100% Syrah from the more loess soils and full-south facing Méal lieu-dit. This puppy is locked and loaded on the palate, with a huge, rich, mouthfilling style, ripe tannins, and a blockbuster of a finish. |
|||||||||
|
|
Rhone | 1 | 95-97 (VN) |
In Bond
€1,200.00 |
|||||
Vinous (95-97)Full purple color. Deeply pitched kirsch, cassis, licorice, olive, cured meat and floral aromas are sharpened by suggestions of black pepper and smoky minerals. Broad and weighty in the mouth, offering intense bitter cherry, dark berry compote, fruitcake and espresso flavors and a sweet hint of candied violet. Chewy tannins add grip to an impressively long, smoky finish that leaves kirsch, licorice, espresso and floral notes behind. This one is built for the long haul. |
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Rhone | 1 | - |
In Bond
€208.00 |
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Rhone | 4 | - |
In Bond
€514.00 |
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Rhone | 36 | - |
In Bond
€869.00 |
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Rhone | 1 | 95 (WA) |
In Bond
€208.00 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (95)One of the highest points in Chapoutier's lineup this year, the 2022 Ermitage Le Méal evokes aromas of violet, lilac, spices, pepper and dark berries. Medium to full-bodied, concentrated and layered, it's more charming than Monier de la Sizeranne with a fleshier core of fruit and more harmonious, velvety tannins, concluding with a floral, ethereal finish. Delicately crafted and refined on the palate, this wine was fermented with 15% whole bunches and aged in a significant proportion of large barrels, 25% of which were new. |
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|
|
Rhone | 24 | 95 (WA) |
In Bond
€909.00 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (95)One of the highest points in Chapoutier's lineup this year, the 2022 Ermitage Le Méal evokes aromas of violet, lilac, spices, pepper and dark berries. Medium to full-bodied, concentrated and layered, it's more charming than Monier de la Sizeranne with a fleshier core of fruit and more harmonious, velvety tannins, concluding with a floral, ethereal finish. Delicately crafted and refined on the palate, this wine was fermented with 15% whole bunches and aged in a significant proportion of large barrels, 25% of which were new. |
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Rhone | 1 | - |
In Bond
€1,450.00 |
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Rhone | 1 | 98 (WA) |
In Bond
€929.00 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (98)Bigger and richer than the '01, the sensational 2000 Ermitage le Meal Blanc knocks it out of the park with its buttered peach, wood smoke, orange liqueur, honey and hazelnut-driven bouquet. A wine that should make any Hermitage Blanc lover's knees weak, this full-bodied, voluptuous and concentrated effort has fabulous purity and a blockbuster finish. Totally hedonistic, it still has another 2-3 decades of longevity. |
|||||||||
|
|
Rhone | 1 | 99 (WA) |
In Bond
€191.00 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (99)From a warm site and a hot vintage, the 2009 Ermitage le Meal Blanc was harvested on the August 28, and aged in 100% new French oak. Flirting with perfection and a full-bore, exotic, almost over-the-top expression of Marsanne, it has less minerality than the 2010, yet more of everything else with boatloads of caramelized fruits, buttered citrus, white flowers, honey and crushed rocks all soaring from the glass. Rich, layered, exuberant, unctuous and exotic, with stunning freshness despite it's thickness and weight, drink this incredible white anytime over the coming 30-40 years. |
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