M. Chapoutier : L'Ermite 2011

A fine white wine from the Rhône Valley made from a rigorous selection of plots by M. Chapoutier

The estate

Established since 1808 in Tain-L'Hermitage, M. Chapoutier is an elite reference among fine Rhône Valley wines today.

Winemaker and wine merchant, Michel Chapoutier has successfully brought this family-owned business to the very top. The wines by Maison Chapoutier are renowned by the finest connoisseurs from all around the world for their refinement and high quality. A man of many talents, Michel Chapoutier holds the world record for 100/100 scores awarded by the American critic, Robert Parker. Mathilde, Michel Chapoutier's daughter, has taken over the running of this iconic house, which has over 350 hectares of vineyards in the most prestigious appellations of the northern and southern parts of the Rhône Valley region.

The vineyard

L'Ermite 2011 white wine by M. Chapoutier is a parcel-based Ermitage wine that stems from a selection of old Marsanne vines, unique due to both their mineral expression and their late ripening. Located at the top of the Hermitage hill, in a place called l'Ermite, these nutrient-poor terroirs are mainly composed of granite also called "gore".

Vinification and ageing

The grapes are harvested by hand when fully ripe and, after a light settling, are vinified exclusively in barrels. Following a long fermentation, the wine is aged on its lees for 10 to 12 months, with regular stirring of the lees.

The blend

Marsanne (100%).

M. Chapoutier's Ermite 2011: Characteristics and tasting tips

The tasting

Colour

The clear and brilliant colour of this wine showcases a beautiful straw yellow.

Nose

Expressive with a beautiful minerality, the nose reveals fragrances of vanilla, almonds, dried fruit and lime blossom.

Palate

Round and well-balanced, the palate is seduced by this wine’s aromatic palette exuding aromas of white fruits (peaches and apricots), its beautiful persistence as well as its subtle bitterness at the end of the tasting.

Cellaring

The most mineral out of M. Chapoutier's three white parcels, Ermite 2011 is beginning to reach its peak. This fine white wine from the Rhône Valley can, depending on the vintage, be cellared for 30 to 60 years, or even 50 to 75 years.

Food and wine pairing

A pan-fried scallops flambé or a lobster Thermidor will complement Ermite 2011 by M. Chapoutier.