M. Chapoutier : Le Méal 2023

Pure blackberry with a touch of juniper. Soft and juicy style, with plenty of ripe fruit and ripe tannins. The alcohol is quite generous for the vintage; it certainly has power and concentration, perhaps just a little soft in tannin for this cuvée. Lush, easy-going but concentrated. 15% whole bunch, from lieu-dit Le Méal.

The classic 2023 Ermitage Le Méal makes its first impression with graphite dust, wild dark cherry, slender cedar and spicy tones. Sumptuously weighted, gently structured and totally reviving, the 2023 is a highly elegant red Ermitage from Chapoutier, doubling down with precision-poise on the long and complex close.

In comparison to the 2022, the 2023 Ermitage Le Méal is markedly different in style. Revealing a harmonious, lively bouquet of flowers, dark wild berries, cassis, violet and grapefruit, it’s medium- to full-bodied, dense and powerful, supported by racy acidity and a fleshy core of fruit framed by vibrant, velvety tannins, concluding with a long, ethereal and perfumed finish. Sourced from a parcel located at the foot of Le Méal on sedimentary soils and alluvial deposits, 80% of the wine matured in large barrels and 20% was in smaller barrels, with around 15% new oak used for the large-format barrels.