2020 Chapoutier Ermitage l'Ermite

Syrah - 750ML
Reg: $425.00
$345.00
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REVIEWS

JS 100 JD 100 VN 99 DC 98 WA 98 WS 98
JS 100

jamessuckling.com, May 2023

If you ever wondered why Hermitage had such a special reputation then you need to taste this towering masterpiece of this appellation. Spectacular mountain freshness as well as enormous concentration and underplayed...
JD 100

jebdunnuck.com, December 2022

In the same qualitative ballpark as the Pavillon, the 2020 Ermitage L'Ermite is even tighter and more chiseled. It too is perfectly proportioned and insanely pure, with notes of crème de cassis, burning embers...
VN 99

Vinous, December 2022

(VN 97-99 points) Glass-staining violet color. Intensely perfumed ripe black and blue fruits, exotic spices, potpourri, olive and incense aromas are sharpened by a smoky mineral flourish. Juicy and expansive in the...
DC 98

Decanter, June 2021

A fresh, flinty aroma with blackcurrant underneath - enlivening nose. Great harmony, incisive freshness and remarkable drive. The fruit is fresh, pure and concentrated. Totally seamless on the palate, with incredible...
WA 98

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, May 2024

(98+ points) Compelling scents of roasted meat, espresso and blueberries roar from the glass, joined by a hint of vanilla on the nose of the 2020 Ermitage l'Ermite. A huge behemoth of a wine in the mouth, it's...
WS 98

Wine Spectator, December 2023

This densely packed red has it all, from a brooding base of smoked blackberry, ganache, plum puree and fig paste flavors to textural intrigue and a long finish. Shows muscular tannins that are nicely burnished to give...

WINE DETAILS

Color & Type Red
Varietal Syrah
Country France
Region Rhone
Sub-region Northern Rhone
Appellation Hermitage
Vintage 2020
Size 750ML
Percent alcohol 14%
Closure Cork

Chapoutier is one of the oldest wine producers in the Rhone Valley with a history dating back to 1808. A distant ancestor, Polydor Chapoutier, was the first to buy vines here, shifting from being a simple grape grower to making and trading his own wine. For the last two hundred years, the estate has been producing some of the greatest wines in the Rhone Valley. Today, the range also includes wines from some Roussillon appellations as well as projects in Portugal and Australia.

Under Michel Chapoutier’s leadership, quality improved and Chapoutier gained international recognition. The massive negociant and winery produces single-vineyard expressions and classic wines from a range of appellations in the north and south of the valley.

They have adopted biodynamic farming techniques and have included Braille markings on their labels since 1996. This was done from a desire to reach out to and include lovers of good wines with sight-impairments, and as a tribute to Maurice Monier of La Sizeranne, a member of the family that previously owned the vines of the same name and who invented the first abbreviated version of Braille.

Ermitage wines possess a rich historical past. They were appreciated in Roman times when they and Cote Rotie wines were enjoyed under the name of "Vienne wines".

The name of Ermitage probably first appeared in the 17th Century in memory of Henry Gaspard, a knight from Sterimberg who, having come back from the Crusades (in the 13th Century) and tired of waging war, lived as a hermit on a hillside which had been given to him by Anne of Castille, Queen of Spain. There he planted a vineyard.

The L’Ermite vineyard is situated at the top of the Hermitage hill, around the chapel, in a place named the Ermite. The vines are 80 years old planted in granitic soils which are very poor.

The color of the wine is a very deep garnet red, almost black. On the nose are black fruits with spices and ink overtones. The tannins are at the same time powerful and velvety. Smoky and pepper overtones are wonderful expressions of Syrah from granitic soil. Depending on the vintage, the wine can be kept from 30 to 60 years or from 50 to 75 years.

The 2020 Chapoutier Ermitage l'Ermite Syrah, hailing from the esteemed Hermitage appellation in Northern Rhone, France, is a standout wine receiving high praise from professional reviewers. This red wine, closed with cork and boasting an alcohol content of 14%, is noted for its impressive balance of power and elegance.

Decanter's review on June 10, 2021, awarded this wine an exceptional score of 98 points, describing it as having "a fresh, flinty aroma with blackcurrant underneath - enlivening nose." The publication highlighted its "great harmony, incisive freshness, and remarkable drive," noting the wine's "incredible textural finesse" and "very long" finish. They emphasized its potential for aging, suggesting it could be enjoyed between 2030 and 2055.

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, reviewed by Joe Czerwinski on May 16, 2024, also gave it a stellar 98+ points. Czerwinski noted "compelling scents of roasted meat, espresso, and blueberries," along with a hint of vanilla. He described it as a "huge behemoth of a wine" that is simultaneously an "elegant beast" with excellent aging potential.

Jeb Dunnuck, in his review on December 15, 2022, awarded the wine a perfect score of 100 points. He praised its "crème de cassis, burning embers, blueberries, camphor, charcoal, and crushed stone" notes, calling it "incredibly concentrated, full-bodied, and yet still flawlessly balanced and elegant." He recommended aging it for 10-15 years for optimal enjoyment, projecting a longevity of 50 years.

Vinous' Josh Raynolds, in his review on December 22, 2022, gave it 97-99 points, describing it as "intensely perfumed" with "ripe black and blue fruits, exotic spices, potpourri, olive, and incense aromas." He praised its "alluringly sweet blueberry, cherry preserve, fruitcake, and mocha flavors," noting its "fabulously long, penetrating finish."

James Suckling, in his review on May 4, 2023, also awarded the wine a perfect score of 100 points. He highlighted its "spectacular mountain freshness" and "enormous concentration and underplayed tannic power." He emphasized the wine's "fabulous mineral freshness at the finish," suggesting it would be best enjoyed from 2026 onwards.

Wine Spectator's review on December 27, 2023, assigned it 98 points, noting its "densely packed" nature with "smoked blackberry, ganache, plum puree, and fig paste flavors." They praised its "muscular tannins" and "long finish," recommending it be enjoyed from 2025 through 2045.

Overall, the 2020 Chapoutier Ermitage l'Ermite Syrah is a highly acclaimed wine with significant aging potential, praised for its balance, complexity, and elegance.