M. Chapoutier : Le Meal 2018

The balance and delicacy of a white wine from Ermitage

The estate

Established since 1808 in Tain-L'Hermitage, M. Chapoutier is an elite reference among fine Rhône Valley wines today.

Winemaker and wine merchant, Michel Chapoutier has successfully brought this family-owned business to the very top. The wines by Maison Chapoutier are renowned by the finest connoisseurs from all around the world for their refinement and high quality. A man of many talents, Michel Chapoutier holds the world record for 100/100 scores awarded by the American critic, Robert Parker. Mathilde, Michel Chapoutier's daughter, has taken over the running of this iconic house, which has over 350 hectares of vineyards in the most prestigious appellations of the northern and southern Rhône Valley region.

The vineyard

This plot-selection Ermitage Le Méal by M. Chapoutier is made from grapes that stem from the eponymous hillside. This terroir is made up of very old fluvio-glacial alluvium and pebbles that lend their heat to the soil. These old vines, over 50 years old, are renowned for their low yields, which produce high-quality wines.

Vinification and ageing

Manual harvest at full maturity. Pressing followed by cold settling of the must for approximately 24 to 48 hours. Around 50% of the wine is made in demi-muids and 50% in vats. This wine is aged for 10 to 12 months, with regular stirring of the lees.

The blend

M. Chapoutier's Le Méal 2018 is a 100% Marsanne.

M. Chapoutier's Le Méal 2018: Characteristics and tasting tips

The tasting

Notes of reduction, a feature of young Ermitage wines, give way to a precise, mineral and tense palate. Balanced and persistent, the palate seduces with notes of celery, struck matches and toasted sesame seeds.

Cellaring

M. Chapoutier's 2018 Le Méal can wait in the cellar for several decades to express its full range of aromas.