No drink driving
Syrah
France
Rhone
750ml
16-18°C
Wine Advocate100(2012)
Wine Advocate98+(2011)
Wine Advocate100(2010)
Colour is very dark, purple, almost black. Nose of dark fruit with notes of spice and ink. very powerful yet silky tannins, with notes of smoke and pepper. A wonderful expression of the Syrah in this granite soil. Depending on the vintage, the wine can be kept for 30 to 60 years.
The story began with Michel Chapoutier, a unique man with a thirst for knowledge, definitely one of a kind. Michel is openminded and always willing to learn. He seeks to discover and reflect the full potential of his terroirs and let the soils express their true character. That which gives the wines their signature style. This now forms the basis of the M. CHAPOUTIER ethos and our team strives to reveal the very best of what the soils have to offer.
Shallow, sandy, leached, brown soils, from Tournon granite, situated at the top of the Hermitage hill, near the chapel, in a locality known as l’Ermite. This granite is classed as “alkaline granite”. 120 year old vines on very poor granite soils. This vineyard has been biodynamically grown since 1991.
The 100% destalked grapes are vinified in concrete tanks. Maceration lasts 4 to 6 weeks in order to obtain silky, stable tannins that will give the wine very long aging potential. Temperatures above 30°C are desirable to favour texture (polymerization of tannins) over aromas. Only free run wine is used for this wine. 20% of the wine is aged in new barrels, 20% in barrels already used for 1 vintage, 30% in barrels of 2 vintages, and the balance in concrete vats.
