2017 Ermitage l'Ermite
By Chapoutier
2017 Ermitage l'Ermite from Chapoutier, Rhone, Rest of the World
With the release of its unique 2017 vintage, Chapoutier once again asserts its rightful place on the grand chessboard of formidable Rhone's wine producers. The product in focus is the esteemed Ermitage l'Ermite from the elevated 2017 harvest, a synthesis of skill and serendipity that pays clear homage to this illustrious label's legacy while signifying a thrilling departure in taste profiles.
Unveiling Layers of a Singular Vintage
This select year witnessed an early heatwave that imposed an undeniable imprint on the grapes, accelerating their maturity and imbuing them with an amplified acidity. The result is a wine with generous swathes of lush fruitladen flavors with undertones of tantalising blackberry nuances.
The 2017 Ermitage l'Ermite from Chapoutier has distinctly integrated tannin, coating the palate with a delicious velvet of richness and depth that sparkles with notes of licorice and crushed rocks. The intense concentration of this wholly Syrah wine has notched up a gear and formed one of the purest expressions to date.
A Coveted Asset in any Wine Investment Portfolio
Respected for its textual elegance and stunning linearity, this Ermitage l'Ermite is marked as a prized collectible for wine investors who appreciate cases built around iconic vintages. A celebration of terroir itself, its enigmatic profile embodies the drought-ridden year, making way for a limited production but deemed worthy for any discerning investor's cellar.
The finale of this robust narrative beams layers of black cherry, tied neatly with graphic minerality that playfully springs forth in every sip. And while it bodes well for immediate consumption, the hefty structure of this memorable Ermitage l'Ermite suggests a long ageing potential.
Thus, the matrimony of a captivating year and the long-revered craftsmanship of Chapoutier has birthed an investable masterpiece that not only shows supreme promise in its growth trajectory but also delights the senses, making the 2017 Ermitage l'Ermite an undeniable asset in any wine investment portfolio.
Market price (HKD)
HK$20,050.00
12x75cl
Highest score
100
POP score
105
Scores and tasting notes
The 2017 Ermitage l'Ermite is equally astounding but a completely different expression of Hermitage. Somehow this combines the reservedness of le Pavillon with the generosity of le Méal, resulting in a wine that I can only describe as perfect. The pristine cassis fruit is remarkably pure, joined by complex notes of crushed stone, salted licorice and the slightest hints of fine-grained oak. It's full-bodied, concentrated and velvety in texture, with oodles of chewy but ripe tannins and a finish that goes on for minutes.
Joe Czerwinski - The Wine Advocate, 19 December 2019