2019 Ermitage L'Ermite
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Tasting notes
Opaque ruby. Displays a complex array of dark fruit preserve, floral, exotic spice and savory herb qualities on the highly perfumed nose; a smoky mineral accent builds as the wine opens up. Shows excellent clarity and spicy lift to its profoundly concentrated cherry liqueur, blueberry, vanilla, espresso and fruitcake flavors, which slowly expand through the mid-palate. Deftly blends depth and energy and shows superb detail and mineral thrust on a strikingly long, youthfully tannic finish.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
Pure cassis, violets, blackberries, burning embers, and an insane amount of minerality define the 2019 Ermitage L'Ermite, a full-bodied, powerful, backward, primordial Hermitage. As usual, it’s more inward and reserved compared to the Pavillon, yet it’s a huge wine that has masses of tannins, incredible purity, fine tannins, and a great, great finish.
Marked by sensationally deep notes of crushed stone, cassis and blueberry, the 2019 Ermitage l'Ermite is a tremendous effort and a worthy rival to the wines produced in the past four vintages. Full-bodied, it's rich and restrained, expansive yet structured—just a complete wine from mouthwatering aromas to velvety mouthfeel and long, stony finish. While delicious now, I'd expect it to close up shortly, yet still be going strong two decades from now. Wow!
100% Syrah. Cask sample. Tasted at the domaine. Inky, brooding and ferrous, with ripe plum, sweet and meaty at the same time. Crushed violets and smoky fruit are supported by a gentle nudge of liquorice and charred oak. The tannins are very firm, majestic and structured. This is a broad-shouldered, powerful L'Ermite and will offer hedonistic opulent pleasure in time – nice weight and texture and still with great tension and spice. Showing great potential. (AC)