M. Chapoutier : L'Ermite 2008

The freshness and aromatic richness of a red wine from Ermitage by M. Chapoutier

The estate

Established since 1808 in Tain-L'Hermitage, M. Chapoutier is an elite reference among fine Rhône Valley wines today.

Winemaker and wine merchant, Michel Chapoutier has successfully brought this family-owned business to the very top. The wines by Maison Chapoutier are renowned by the finest connoisseurs from all around the world for their refinement and high quality. A man of many talents, Michel Chapoutier holds the world record for 100/100 scores awarded by the American critic, Robert Parker. Mathilde, Michel Chapoutier's daughter, has taken over the running of this iconic house, which has over 350 hectares of vineyards in the most prestigious appellations of the northern and southern parts of the Rhône Valley region.

The vineyard

L'Ermite by M. Chapoutier is a plot-based Ermitage wine that stems from a selection of old Syrah vines. Located at the top of the Hermitage hill, in a place called l'Ermite, these vineyards are over 80 years old and are planted on very nutrient-poor granite soils.

Vinification and ageing

The grapes are harvested by hand late in the season in order to obtain favourable natural alcohol contents. The grapes are 100% destemmed and vinified in concrete vats. Maceration lasts about 4 weeks and is carried out at a temperature not exceeding 32°C in order to guarantee optimal extraction. Only free-run wine is used in the production of this wine. Following the run-off, the wine is placed in new barrels and one-year-old barrels for an ageing period of approximately 8 to 20 months.

The blend

Syrah (100%).

M. Chapoutier's Ermitage Ermite 2008: Characteristics and tasting tips

The tasting

Colour

A beautiful garnet colour.

Nose

The nose blends black fruit fragrances with savoury notes of spices and ink.

Palate

A perfect expression of its original granite terroir with delicate notes of smoke and pepper. The palate is also seductive with its powerful yet silky tannins.

Cellaring

Made from a vintage marked by freshness, this Ermite 2008 by M. Chapoutier is unique in that it is accessible on the palate from a parcel that is generally accessible after about twenty years. This wine can also, depending on the vintage, be cellared for 30 to 60 years, or even 50 to 75 years.

Food and wine pairing

M. Chapoutier's Ermite 2008 will complement a rib of beef with Chanterelle mushrooms, a roasted deer or a wild boar stew.