Chapoutier   Ermitage lErmite Blanc

2005 Ermitage l'Ermite Blanc

By Chapoutier

2005 Ermitage l'Ermite Blanc from Chapoutier, Rhône

Laying eyes on the 2005 Ermitage l'Ermite Blanc from Chapoutier is akin to stepping back through timeworn archive pages of Rhône viticulture, wherein is inscribed each vintage's unique tale. This masterfully crafted marriage of Marsanne grapes truly embodies the timeless allure of the Rhône valley.

 

Narrative of a memorable vintage

Monumental in scope and awe-inspiring in its narrative, the 2005 Ermitage l'Ermite Blanc weaves the tale of a storied year where winemaking worked in symphony with the elements. The year 2005 proved historic, it was marked by optimal climatic conditions that mirrored the subtlety and power inherent in great vintages.

Chapoutier leans into the whispers of the soil, coaxes forth its core essence, resulting an astonishing embodiment of microcosmic alchemy. Suffused with profound minerality and rounded by deep layers of ethereal flavour profiles, this wine exhibits a tone that speaks volumes of its singular character.

 

Distinguished vintage, viable investment

Vino-investment enthusiasts will find much charm in the 2005 Ermitage l'Ermite Blanc’s imbued depth. Among the rolling vineyards that etch Rhône’s landscapes lay priceless casks of this unimpeachable treasure which highlights its potential as one of most desirable wines particularly for discerning investors.

The wine opens up to well-integrated notes of honeyed pear, toasted almond and acacia blossom which are indicative of Marsanne at its prime. As one sips further, undertones of stone fruit compote and crushed herbs unfold, creating a sensorial journey that haunts the finish line of the palate.

Boasting impressive longevity and showing vibrant signs of further evolution, the 2005 Ermitage l'Ermite Blanc from Chapoutier is indeed an exciting opportunity for investors and a crown jewel among its contemporaries.

This exemplar wine, boasting of distinct provenance, rich personality and impressive endurance outclasses other offerings in the realm of white Rhône. Clearly, the mystique of this vintage intrigues not only the senses but also underpins its status as a fascinating investment perspective.

Current market price

$6,180.00

12x75cl

Highest score

95

POP score

247.33

Scores and tasting notes

95

At the very top of the appellation’s dome of decomposed granite is l’Ermite. This wine is the equivalent of drinking liquified rocks.The 2005 Ermitage l’Ermite blanc has that multi-layered mouthfeel, an extraordinary nose of intense minerality, quince, and white fruits. Some of the vines in this parcel are 130 years old, and the wine has over-the-top richness yet amazing acidity, depth, and a freshness that is hard to believe given its power and intensity. With twenty vintages under his belt, Michel Chapoutier and his impressive winemaking staff go from strength to strength. These are among the world’s greatest wines, especially the single vineyard wines, many of which will last 50 or more years. Chapoutier thinks 2006 is one of the very finest vintages in the northern Rhone for white wines (and I don’t see any reason to disagree). The naturally high acidity and a summer season with no brutal heat waves allowed the wines to maintain their acidity while at the same time gaining flavor intensity. I have always had the feeling that despite his prodigious ability to make profound red wines, Michel Chapoutier gets a greater thrill from his white wine portfolio than from his impressive reds. . The single vineyard wines from Chapoutier are wines of super concentration, and are made from what are historically tiny yields. Along with Chaves’ white Hermitage and a handful of other Rhone whites, these are potentially the longest-lived and most profound whites being produced there. From the granite hillsides of St.-Joseph, Michel Chapoutier makes by far the appellation’s finest white, and one might argue, red as well. Importer: Terlato Wines International, Lake Bluff, IL; tel. (847) 604-8900

Robert Parker Jr - The Wine Advocate, 28 February 2008

Vintage performance