2021 Ermitage L'Ermite

Unlike in some vintages, there's no stem inclusion in the 2021 Ermitage l'Ermite. It's still plenty complex, with hints of crushed stone joining boysenberries and blueberries on the nose. Medium to full-bodied, this is intense, crunchy-textured, bright and taut in the mouth, then silky on the finish.

The 2021 Ermitage L'Ermite (which saw 15% stems) is another beautiful wine from Chapoutier. Brought up in 25% new oak, it has a perfumed nose of red and black fruits, leather, crushed stone, and loamy earth. Rich, medium-bodied, beautifully balanced, and elegant on the palate, it’s a touch more focused and linear compared to the Pavillon at this point and will benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age. The 2021 vintage doesn't get much better. This was another fabulous tasting with Michel Chapoutier and his team, and it continues to be one of the highlight tastings I do in a year. The portfolio is massive, so there’s certainly something in here for everyone. Looking at the 2021s, I was able to retaste a handful of the flagship whites, and these appear to have shut down slightly. I wouldn’t touch bottles for another 3-5 years. The reds are leaner and focused, but balanced, and certainly impeccably made. However, the 2022s continue to trend here, starting around 2017 or 2018, toward fresher, lighter wines, both with the reds and whites. In addition, they’re all experimenting with whole cluster fermentations, which works beautifully in the wines I was able to taste.

The 2021 Ermitage L'Ermite unfurls with precisely sculpted crushed violets, red cherry, graphite, blackberry and forest floor traces. Medium-bodied and refreshing, the palate is marked by chalky tannins that need more time to mellow. Give this well-made 2021 at least three more years in bottle.