Chapoutier L'Ermite Ermitage Tinto 2011

The Michel Chapoutier winery is a jewel of the Rhône Valley. It was founded in 1808 and is part of the history of the Côtes-du-Rhône. With the arrival of Michel Chapoutier in 1990, his leadership transformed the philosophy of winemaking in the Rhône. This philosophy is based on two basic principles: first, to seek out terroirs and get as close to them as possible, so much so that the plot becomes more important than the work of the winemaker. M. Chapoutier's viticulture is to reveal the terroir in the wine and this gives an incredible richness to the wines. Most of the wines from the Rhône are made from Syrah, and also Grenache, but M. Chapoutier's Syrah is different, it feels different. They work rigorously under the principles of biodynamics. M.Chapoutier has a very extensive line of wines and they all follow the same principle, the vintage year is left as is - no chaptalization, no addition of yeasts or acidifiers. L'Ermite are vineyards situated high on the Ermitage hill, around the hermitage. 80 year old vines on very poor granitic soils. As expected, the 2011 Ermitage l'Ermite, which comes from the site of the same name, is more back and focused, with a slightly closed and tight profile. Slowly giving up the abundant blackcurrant and black raspberry, graphite, licorice and edgy minerality, it is full bodied, deeply concentrated and tannic, but never wrong and perfectly balanced and seamless. Give it 3-4 years in the cellar and enjoy it over the next two decades or more." (Robert Parker SIC) RP 98+