★

4.45/5

Assistant

Guaranteed provenanceDirect from the estates

M. Chapoutier : Le Méal 2024

Name: M. Chapoutier : Le Méal 2024
Brand: M. Chapoutier
SKU: F293/2024
Price: 172 EUR
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.45 (144 reviews)

Selection Parcellaire -

Rhone Valley

Ermitage

- White - See details

J. Robinson | 17

€516.00 Incl. VAT

(

€172.00 / Unit

)

Packaging : a case of 3 Bottles (75cl)

1 x 75CL

€183.20

3 x 75CL

€516.00

En Primeur Wines – delivery in early 2027

Let's talk about this product!

A pairing in mind? A question about the vintage? Comparison with another product? Find the answers here...

ALL VINTAGES OF THIS WINE

All M. Chapoutier wines

Marks and reviews

/100

Decanter

A tiny hint of copper to the colour. Savoury bay leaf notes come before the apricot and lead to a very intense palate, showing great salty drive and intensity, followed by lovely acidity. The oak is well-integrated and all is in great balance, with a flinty, smoky finish. A particularly impressive vintage of Le Méal blanc, it has the power of the site, but without excess alcohol or fat. Harvested in one pass this year, it usually takes between one and three passes, but the vineyard was homogeneously ripe.

/20

Jancis Robinson

Julia Harding MW

Cask sample. A 2-ha parcel of old Marsanne vines – more than 50 years old – planted on alluvial soils with large pebbles over a deep clay base. Steep, south-facing slope. High Rhône terraces. Harvested by hand on 17 September. Whole grapes are pressed, and a moderate amount of SO2 is used. Light settling. Fermentation with indigenous yeasts, mostly in demi-muids and barrels (85%, of which 10% are new) and stainless-steel vats (15%). Aged on lees for 11 months with some stirring. pH 3.62, TA 2.7 g/l (sulphuric). Certified organic and biodynamic. More spicy and savoury than Ermitage de l'Orée. Still with underlying pear and almond aromas and flavours. Broad, low in acidity but miraculously fresh, as only white Hermitage seems to manage. A big, full-bodied and balanced wine with plenty of weight and flavour but without heaviness. Sour, chewy finish with spice at the very end. Great texture adds to the impression of freshness but slightly warm at the back of the throat. (JH)

/100

Jeb Dunnuck

From the steep, south-facing hillside in the heart of the appellation, the 2024 Ermitage Le Méal Blanc sports a medium gold hue as well as gorgeous quince, crushed stone, white flowers, and blanched almond-laced aromatics. It's impressive on the palate as well, with beautiful concentration, medium to full body, integrated acidity, and a great finish. It's a serious wine in the vintage that deserves 4-5 years of bottle age and should keep for two decades. Drink 2030-2050.

Description

Tasting notes and recommendations for Le Méal 2024 by M. Chapoutier

Tasting

This wine reveals beautiful aromatic complexity, marked by a highly precise floral character.

Food and wine pairings
This wine pairs ideally with aged cheeses, whose richness and complexity balance its assertive character. Its mineral nuances also match perfectly with dishes prepared with garrigue herbs such as thyme and rosemary.

The precision and elegance of a white wine from the Rhône Valley

The estate
The history of M. Chapoutier began in 1808 in Tain l'Hermitage. The real turning point came in 1879 when the family acquired its first vineyards. Now led by Michel Chapoutier, alongside his children Mathilde and Maxime, the estate spans 389 hectares of vineyards certified in organic and biodynamic farming. Located in the heart of the Rhône Valley, this pioneering House stands out for its deep commitment to soil health and the authentic expression of terroir, as well as for its braille labels, symbols of its inclusivity.

The vineyard
The vineyard from which this wine originates is a steep 0.6-hectare plot located at the heart of the Ermitage hill. It is the sunniest area of the appellation. The vines, aged between 50 and 70 years, thrive on high terraces composed of rolled pebbles and clay. These pebbles store heat during the day and release it at night, while the clay retains moisture and minerals. The entire vineyard is cultivated according to biodynamic principles, without any chemical pesticides or herbicides, respecting natural cycles.

The vintage
The 2024 vintage was marked by cooler climatic conditions in the Rhône Valley. This freshness helped preserve a fine natural acidity. The season required leaving the grapes longer on the vine to achieve perfect phenolic ripeness. These moderate conditions proved particularly favorable for biodynamically farmed vines, allowing them to adapt with resilience and produce highly concentrated berries while maintaining optimal freshness.

Winemaking and aging
For Le Méal 2024, the harvest is carried out exclusively by hand in order to select the finest bunches. The vinification of this white wine is distinguished by lower fermentation temperatures, specifically chosen to preserve aromatic complexity and floral character. The wine then undergoes extended aging on lees, a technique used to refine its texture and expression.

Grape variety
100% marsanne.

From the same producer