2000 Ermitage l'Ermite Blanc
By Chapoutier
2000 Ermitage l'Ermite Blanc from Chapoutier, Rhone
The 2000 Ermitage l'Ermite Blanc from Chapoutier presents as a remarkable investment opportunity for aficionados yearning for both excellence and exhilaration. This compelling vintage ascended from the distinct terroir of Rhone, advancing from the optimal climatic conditions that lingered in the year 2000.
Reaping Rewards from a Rich Vintage
Each sip of this venerable wine elucidates the enigmatic prowess Chapoutier wielded over this sublime vintage. A beneficent blend of rainfall and warmth during late summer endowed the grapes with complexity and intensity unparalleled in previous years. The consummate harvest that ensued was characterised by a satisfying richness of flavour, articulating the personified narrative of an ideal viticultural year.
Its enthralling bouquet unfolds elements of honeyed apricot, mellow almonds and subtle hints of vanilla. The palate is an exemplar of perfect equilibrium, fusing vibrant acidity with opulent fruit, consummated by a lingering finish that serves as a testament to its age-worthiness.
Territory Transcendence: Rhone at Its Best
The divine intervention of Rhone's environment acts as the unsung hero behind the conception of such an epicurean delight. Here, the rich granitic nature of soils coupled with diligent winemaking evolution has resulted in wines with transformative powers.
The 2000 Ermitage l'Ermite Blanc is unequivocally one such creation, its depth and character manifesting the distillation of myriad elements unique to both vintage and region.
Aged Grace: Investment Potential
This vintage, with its perfect symbiosis of durational excellence and immediate enjoyment, proposes an enticing proposition for discerning investors seeking a combination of value and sensory delight. The 2000 Ermitage l'Ermite Blanc from Chapoutier is not merely a wine — it is a harmonious symphony of vibrant terroir, experienced winemaking, and the serendipity of a climatically rewarding year.
In conclusion, it's an excellent addition to any wine investment portfolio, promising an attractive balance between its inherent pleasures and the anticipated benefits of long-term appreciation.
Market price (CAD)
$5,500.00
12x75cl
Highest score
100
POP score
165
Scores and tasting notes
Last year I wrote that the 2000 Ermitage l’Ermite was one of the most amazing white Hermitages I had ever tasted. In bottle, it has confirmed all of its extraordinary character. This light gold-colored effort is pure liquid minerals. Notes of honey, tropical fruits, smoke, and licorice are offered in a phenomenally full-bodied, mineral-imbued masterpiece with a long, concentrated, chewy mid-palate, great purity as well as a 50+ second finish. This awesome dry white should prove to be nearly immortal. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2050. These uncompromising offerings from a young genius are not meant for consumers who want something to drink immediately. They are the essence of bio-dynamically farmed vineyard sites cropped incredibly low, given extended fermentations with indigenous yeasts, and rarely touched until they go into the bottle unfined and unfiltered. In most vintages, the wines are not even racked off their lees, which only adds to their natural style. These are truly remarkable wines, but for most readers, patience is the operative rule as they generally need a good 8-10 years to strut their stuff. Once moribund, over the last 12 years, this firm has become one of the reference points for nearly all the Rhone Valley appellations since the brash yet immensely talented Michel Chapoutier took over in the late eighties. The single vineyard offerings are as good as Rhone Valley wines can be. Moreover, Chapoutier continues to upgrade the quality of those wines offered in more significant quantities than the 500 or so cases each of the single vineyard offerings. Importer: Paterno Imports, Lake Bluff, IL; tel. (847) 604-8900
Robert Parker Jr - The Wine Advocate, 29 June 2003