M. Chapoutier : Le Méal 2018

Very focused, with a beam of racy-edged cassis, loganberry and black cherry fruit paste flavors driving through, laced with red tea, anise and floral hints. Ends with a long, very fine-grained finish. Best from 2023 through 2038. 15 cases imported.

Glass-staining ruby. Displays penetrating aromas of ripe red and blue fruits, incense, vanilla, potpourri and smoky minerals, which pick up an exotic spice accent as the wine stretches out. Sappy and seamless on the palate, displaying sharp delineation to its sappy, mineral-inflected black raspberry, boysenberry, candied violet and spicecake flavors. Shows suave, graceful character for the vintage and finishes extremely long and appealingly sweet, with discreet tannins framing lingering blue fruit liqueur and floral notes.

From one of the warmer terroirs on Hermitage Hill, the 2018 Ermitage Le Méal was all destemmed and vinified in concrete, followed by 18 months in 20% new demi-muids and barrels. It's unquestionably the ripest, most opulent of the single vineyard Hermitage and sports a dense purple/plum color as well as powerful notes of black raspberries, currants, camphor, cured meats, acacia flowers, and violets. Rich, concentrated, and full-bodied, it builds beautifully on the palate, has a ripe, expansive texture, sweet tannins, and a rocking finish. This is one sexy, pleasure-bent Hermitage that can be enjoyed any time over the coming 30 years or more.

The fruit is fully ripe. Fresh and deep, the nose is precise, spicy, peppery, framed by oak that doesn’t overplay its hand. The palate is concentrated, firm and tight, yet neither harsh nor angular. The whole is in line with the character of this terroir.