M. Chapoutier, Hermitage, Le Meal Rouge

M. Chapoutier farms biodynamically and bottles its Hermitage plots separately under the old spelling "Ermitage", keeping "Hermitage" for blends. The reds are pure Syrah: Le Pavillon, from 90–100-year-old vines on about 4 ha of granite near Les Bessards, destemmed and fermented in concrete, dense yet silky; L'Ermite, old vines on poor granite at the hilltop, dark, peppery and built for decades; plus Le Méal and Les Greffieux. The whites are all Marsanne: De l'Orée from Les Murets, partly lees-aged in 600-litre casks, honeyed and mineral, along with L'Ermite, Le Méal, Chante-Alouette and a sweet Vin de Paille. Monier de la Sizeranne blends Bessards, Méal and Greffieux Syrah. Labels carry Braille.

Region

Northern Rhône (Hermitage), plus southern Rhône and Roussillon

Vineyards

About 32 ha in Hermitage; biodynamic farming

Grapes

Syrah (reds), Marsanne (white Hermitage)

Wines

Ermitage Le Pavillon, L'Ermite, Le Méal, Les Greffieux, De l'Orée; Hermitage Monier de la Sizeranne, Chante-Alouette, Vin de Paille

Style

Destemmed Syrah fermented in concrete, 18–20 months in French oak for the parcel wines

Website

chapoutier.com

Sources: Wikipedia, socialvignerons.com, jjbuckley.com