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Ermitage Le Meal Rouge, Maison M. Chapoutier 2020

Tasting Notes

Another wine that flirts with perfection, the 2020 Ermitage Le Méal comes from the steep, south-facing slope right in the heart of Hermitage hill. All destemmed and brought up in the standard 20% new barrels and demi-muids, it has a more tight, straight, almost reserved profile than usual yet doesn't lack for density, mid-palate depth, structure, and concentration. Blackberries, redcurrants, spice, dried flowers, and loamy earth all define the aromatics, and it's full-bodied, has ripe, polished tannins, and a great finish. It needs to be forgotten for at least 5-7 years but will evolve for three decades.

98+
Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com, December 2022

Explosive ripe blackberries melded with spicy oak. Very smooth and generous, shot through with a thick weave of sweet, ripe tannins. The alcohol is on the high side, but this has very impressive concentration and tannic weight - coupled with balanced acidity this promises to age with interest. I love the sweet, soft tannins, but this will take a long time to come round and show fully display its terroir.

Drinking Window 2030 - 2045

95
Matt Walls, Decanter.com, June 2021

Welcome to the dark side of the Hermitage force, complete with billowing smoke and a deep well of blackberry fruit. Staggering concentration and a massive structure that’s nonetheless very precise. Enormous depth and energy at the finish which moves across the palate like a giant wave, which you the drinker are surfing. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification. Drinkable now, but best from 2025.

98
Stuart Pigott, JamesSuckling.com, May 2023

A ripe, sexy, opulent Hermitage, the 2020 Ermitage Le Méal has lots of black raspberry, violet, spring flower, and cured meat-like aromatics. It shows its Méal origin on the palate, where it’s full-bodied, has a creamy, velvety, opulent mouthfeel, ultra-fine tannins, and one gorgeous finish. It’s certainly the most extroverted in the lineup, but it still brings plenty of focus, freshness, and structure.

98/100
Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com, February 2022
Please note that these tasting notes/scores are not intended to be exhaustive and in some cases they may not be the most recently published figures. However, we always do our best to add latest scores and reviews when these come to our attention. We advise customers who wish to purchase wines based simply on critical reviews to carry out further research into the latest reports.