2018 Ermitage Le Meal
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Tasting notes
Full bottle 1,390 g. More than 50-year-old Marsanne grown on fluvio-glacial soils with alluvial deposits. Whole grapes are pressed and the must cold-settled for 24 to 48 hours. About half was vinified in new, 600-litre barrels and the rest was fermented in what is described as 'vats'. The wine was then aged in cask with lees stirring. Certified organic and biodynamic. Mid gold. Agreeably stinky on the nose. Fascinatingly complex with beeswax, honeysuckle, smoke and green vegetation. Then on the palate, there is wonderfully satin-textured richness. I'm tasting this at coolish room temperature and that seems just right. This is a wine that really needs to expand. (JR)
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
Glass-staining ruby. Displays penetrating aromas of ripe red and blue fruits, incense, vanilla, potpourri and smoky minerals, which pick up an exotic spice accent as the wine stretches out. Sappy and seamless on the palate, displaying sharp delineation to its sappy, mineral-inflected black raspberry, boysenberry, candied violet and spicecake flavors. Shows suave, graceful character for the vintage and finishes extremely long and appealingly sweet, with discreet tannins framing lingering blue fruit liqueur and floral notes.
Joint favourite in a comparative tasting of five 2018 Syrahs. Tasted blind. Smells very savoury/salty. Sweet, rich palate entry with strong elderberry flavours. Quite an evolved rim but still-tense fruit. Appetising dry, saline finish. No obvious alcohol. (JR)
From one of the warmer terroirs on Hermitage Hill, the 2018 Ermitage Le Méal was all destemmed and vinified in concrete, followed by 18 months in 20% new demi-muids and barrels. It's unquestionably the ripest, most opulent of the single vineyard Hermitage and sports a dense purple/plum color as well as powerful notes of black raspberries, currants, camphor, cured meats, acacia flowers, and violets. Rich, concentrated, and full-bodied, it builds beautifully on the palate, has a ripe, expansive texture, sweet tannins, and a rocking finish. This is one sexy, pleasure-bent Hermitage that can be enjoyed any time over the coming 30 years or more.