The estate
Established since 1808 in Tain-L'Hermitage, M. Chapoutier today embodies the elite of Rhône Valley wines.
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 northern and southern Rhône Valley.
The vineyard
Le Pavillon 2013 from M. Chapoutier is an Ermitage wine made from a plot of about 4 hectares that gets its uniqueness from its atypical geology consisting of a thin layer of sediments resting on a granitic subsoil. The grapes produced from this vineyard of old vines, 65 years old on average, are renowned for their high quality.
Winemaking and ageing
These old vines were harvested by hand, pushing the limit to over-ripeness, to ensure a low yield. The grapes were 100% destemmed and then vinified in concrete vats with one or two punchings of the cap per day to ensure optimal extraction. Maceration for 4 to 5 weeks.
Made exclusively from free-run wine, this plot-based cuvée was aged for 18 to 20 months in oak barrels (of which an average of 30% were new). Clarification was natural.
Blend
Syrah (100%)
Tasting
Colour
The colour is an intense red.
Nose
Complex and intense, the nose releases scents of blackcurrant, licorice and light touches of smoke and tar.
Palate
The palate is fleshy and velvety, mingling power, balance and texture. It develops graphite, cacao and tobacco notes which draw out to a long-lasting finish.
Food and wine pairing
This Rhône Valley wine pairs perfectly with a piece of beef, stews or ripe goat’s cheese.
The star of the show in 2013 is the 2013 Ermitage le Pavillon. Coming from the west and eastern edges of the Bessards lieu-dit and aged in 30% new French oak, its sensational black/blue color is followed by the awesome bouquet of cassis, smoked earth, graphite and caramelized meats that could come from no other terroir in the world. Full-bodied, massive, dense, sexy and with a liquid rock-like character that comes out with time in the glass, it has sweet tannin and a blockbuster finish that keeps you coming back to the glass. It needs 5-6 years of cellaring and will have 30-40 years of more of ultimate longevity.