2007 Ermitage l'Ermite Blanc
By Chapoutier
2007 Ermitage l'Ermite Blanc from Chapoutier, Rhone
The 2007 Ermitage l'Ermite Blanc from Chapoutier unveils a symphony of depth and sheer elegance. A hallmark of the Rhone, this wine commands applause with its distinguished steadfastness that embodies the character of the region and the year.
Narrative of a Marvelous Vintage
Reminiscing on that year, the 2007 growing season in Rhone experienced an early spring, enabling a timely bud break and optimal flowering. The benevolent sun of high summer strengthened sugar concentrations, while cooler nights steadfastly balanced acidity. Resulting in a white wine that performs an exceptional balancing act between rich, honeyed flavours and tangy citrus freshness.
The 2007 Ermite Blanc embodies these dazzling climatic idiosyncrasies, gifting it with a voluptuous complexity which tantalises one's palate.
The Stellar Expression of Marsanne
Lauded for its jaw-dropping texture and intensity, the brilliance of the Ermitage is truly unlocked through masterful attention to terroir by Chapoutier. Though Marsanne has been cultivated in the Rhone for centuries, it is in the exceptional hands of Chapoutier that this varietal has unfurled its full potential.
An exemplar investment for savvy collectors, the 2007 Ermitage l'Ermite Blanc is a heady mélange of peach, melon and lime zest, laced with whispers of honeycomb and vanilla. Its commanding structure bodes remarkable ageing potential, providing an appreciating asset for years to come.
A Litany of Richness
Unveiling a rich texture and extraordinary detail, each sip of the 2007 Ermitage l'Ermite Blanc represents an investment in the richness of Rhone's fine wine culture. Exquisite layers of acacia, pear, and white peach harmonise with nuances of apricot and hawthorn honey, evoking a luxurious tapestry of flavours.
Should you seek to diversify your portfolio with an unrivaled masterpiece of Rhone viticulture, look no further than the 2007 Ermitage l'Ermite Blanc from Chapoutier. Enduringly spectacular and undeniably investable, this white wine encapsulates the grandeur of its vintage and is as a symphony yet to reach its crescendo.
Market price (GBP)
£5,200.00
12x75cl
Highest score
99
POP score
273.68
Scores and tasting notes
Another candidate for perfection is the 2007 Ermitage l’Ermite blanc. A nectar of rocks, honeysuckle, quince, pears, and white peaches, this super-expressive, full-bodied, thick, glycerin-endowed wine is another example of a massive white Hermitage that can not be found anywhere else in the world. It should last for 35-50 years. (Not yet released) While Michel Chapoutier produces some of the world’s greatest wines from single parcels of old vines spread throughout the northern and southern Rhone (see my ecstatic reviews of his 2007 and 2006 Chateauneuf du Papes in issue #179), he also has an impressive portfolio of value-priced wines that are often over-looked when this impressive producer is discussed. Following are some top-notch picks that all sell for exceptionally fair prices. Chapoutier has not achieved as great as success in Cornas as he has in the other northern Rhone appellations, although his Cornas wines get better with each vintage. There are four extraordinary single vineyard white wines, all of which are among the greatest dry white wines of the world. While all of them can be drunk young, they are meant for extended cellaring. Made from very small yields, they represent the essence of a varietal as well as a vineyard site. As the following notes demonstrate, 2006 was one of the greatest vintages for white wines at Chapoutier. The single vineyard selection parcellaire red wines range in production from 500 to nearly 1,000 cases. 2007 is a very good vintage for these selections, but 2006 has an edge. It is reminiscent of 1996 because of the wines’ freshness and acid levels, but Chapoutier’s 2006s are even more concentrated than his 1996s. Chapoutier’s four 2006 cuvees of single vineyard Hermitage are exquisite. Most of the yields were between 10 and 20 hectoliters per hectare, and the wines are extravagantly rich. The 2006 and 2007 luxury cuvees of Chateauneuf du Pape Croix des Bois and Chateauneuf du Pape Barbe Rac were reviewed in issue #179. They are all astounding wines, especially in 2007 Importer: Terlato Wines International, Lake Bluff, IL; tel. (847) 604-8900
Robert Parker Jr - The Wine Advocate, 28 April 2009