M. Chapoutier : Les Greffieux 2008

A refined and elegant Ermitage red wine

The estate

Established since 1808 in Tain-L'Hermitage, M. Chapoutier today embodies the elite of Rhône Valley wines.

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 northern and southern Rhône Valley.

The vineyard

Les Greffieux from M. Chapoutier, named after the first owner of the plot, is a single-varietal Ermitage wine. The plot is located at the foot of the Hermitage hill and is made up of a terrace of glacial alluvium. This vineyard is unique in that its subsoil is made up of deep clay, which gives the wine finesse and aromatic richness, as well as rolled pebbles, which restore heat and provide concentration and structure.

Winemaking and ageing

Harvested when fully ripe, the grapes were completely destemmed before vinification in cement vats. Long maceration in order to get a gentle extraction of the tannins. Exclusive use of the run-off juice. The wine was aged for 14 to 18 months exclusively in barrels (1/3 of which were new, the rest in barrels of one or two wines).

Blend

Syrah (100%).

Characteristics and tasting tips for Les Greffieux 2008 from M. Chapoutier

Tasting

Colour
The wine is an intense garnet red.

Nose
The nose delights with its astonishing scents of ink and black pepper accompanied by delicious notes of small black fruit.

Palate
The palate unveils a lovely tannic structure and licorice scents.