Chapoutier   Ermitage Cuvee de lOree

2009 Ermitage Cuvee de l'Oree

By Chapoutier

2009 Ermitage Cuvee de l'Oree from Chapoutier, Rhone

The 2009 Ermitage Cuvee de l'Oree emerges from the trusted cellars of Chapoutier, a name synonymous with wines of utmost integrity and exceptional caliber. The legendary 2009 vintage from Rhone elevates this distinguished pedigree of Chapoutier to an entirely new plateau. A fascinating study in complexity and subtlety, this wine is a testament to the impeccable winemaking savoir-faire of the esteemed house of Chapoutier.

 

A Masterful Year in Rhone: 2009 Vintage

The 2009 growing season was able to muster a climate of dramatic precision, transcending the performance of several previous vintages. The sublime equilibrium between scorching summer days and refreshing evening chills created an ideal scenario for exceptional ripening and complexity in the grapes. It was a year when effortless craftsmanship met perfect climatic conditions - the outcome being an unmissable investment piece.

 

The Pinnacle of Craftsmanship: A Tasting Experience

Imbued with signature Rhone sensibilities, the 2009 Ermitage Cuvee de l'Oree displays an intoxicating symphony of flavour. The nose greets with inviting notes of ripe fruit, underscored by complex nuances of vanilla and exotic spices. Further exploration reveals a palate painted with plush honeyed textures and citrus zest, reinforcing its grandeur while ensuring absolute balance. Persistent on the finish, its soft meringue undertones elegantly seal this remarkable tasting experience.

 

A Wine for Connoisseurs: Invest in Unwavering Quality

A collectable must-have for any discerning investor's portfolio, the 2009 Ermitage Cuvee de l'Oree is evidence that investing in Chapoutier carries a predictability of excellence. It is a timeless narrative of a landmark vintage, crafted by a house devoted to bottled genius. This is not just a wine; it's a tangible heritage of an extraordinary viticultural year, waiting patiently to unfold its rich narrative sip by delightful sip.

In summary, the 2009 Ermitage Cuvee de l'Oree from Chapoutier echoes the balanced harmony and unwavering reputation associated with the 2009 Rhone vintage. A wine of such exceptional pedigree commands attention and respect, beckoning wine investors alike to partake in this shared narrative of commitment to timeless winemaking principles and pursuit of perfection.

Current market price

£2,690.00

12x75cl

Highest score

100

POP score

134.5

Scores and tasting notes

100

There are 477 cases of the light gold-colored 2009 Ermitage Cuvee de l’Oree, which I would be happy to insert in a blind tasting against the world’s greatest dry white wines, including Montrachet. The famous gout de petrol is there along with hints of citrus oil, wet steel, crushed rocks, quince, white currants, anise and honeysuckle. Very full, with off-the-charts intensity, this wine was fashioned from yields of 13 hectoliters per hectare (which is financial suicide) from 90 to 100-year old Marsanne vines. The result is an amazingly concentrated white wine that should drink well for 50+ years. As I have written many times, all of these wines are produced from rigidly cultivated, bio-dynamically managed vineyards. That has been the rule since Michel Chapoutier first took over this firm in the late 1980s. Now, with over 20 years of biodynamic viticulture under his belt, Chapoutier remains committed to this rather radical style of organic farming. He believes the effect is to reduce rot in damp, rainy vintages. Moreover, he has observed that after 10 to 15 years of biodynamic farming, the natural acids tend to be more vivid and the overall pH of the soils (as well as the wines) has dropped. Controversial, outspoken and brutally candid, Chapoutier, who suffers no fools, continues to admirably produce wines that are among the finest in the world and potentially the longest lived. Refusing to acidify, chaptalize, or touch the wines in any way, he clearly wants every wine to capture the very essence of its terroir and vintage personality. In this, he succeeds remarkably. No one has made more effort in resurrecting the once-forgotten backwater appellation of St.-Peray than Michel Chapoutier. Working in conjunction with the famed Michelin three-star restaurant family, the Pics, Chapoutier has produced a sensational 2010 Gamme Pic and Chapoutier St.-Peray, and the first single-vineyard St.-Peray, the 2010 Lieu-Dit Peyrolles St.-Peray, which is one of the greatest St.-Perays I have ever tasted. This appellation is all steep hillside vineyards planted in pure, decomposed granite soils, not dissimilar from Hermitage, but they are located on the other side of the Rhone, facing the city of Valence. The single-vineyard wines, or selections parcellaires, 2010 whites are absolutely amazing, with production levels ranging from 300 to 700 or 800 cases of each cuvee. These wines are for true connoisseurs, as they are expensive and meant for long, long evolutions, but they capture the essence of a vintage and terroir as well as any wines in the world. As for the selections parcellaires of 2010 reds, Chapoutier likes this vintage almost as much as 2009, but feels it is very different, emphasizing more acidity and minerality, whereas 2009 is a combination of pure power, concentration and great potential longevity. Michel Chapoutier considers the 2009s, which are all in bottle, to be among the greatest wines he has ever produced, equaling his finest wines of 2006, 2003, 1999, 1990 and 1989 (his debut year). Importer: Terlato Wines International, Lake Bluff, IL; tel. (847) 604-8900

Robert Parker Jr - The Wine Advocate, 22 December 2011

Vintage performance