1998 Ermitage Le Meal
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Tasting notes
Compared to the 1999, the 1998 Ermitage le Meal seamed slightly one-dimensional on the nose and left me craving a touch more complexity. However, it made up for it on the palate and was more expansive and opulent, with full-bodied richness, terrific concentration and a surprising amount of tannic grip that came through on the blockbuster finish. Showing classic Hermitage notes of beef blood, currants, smoked earth and licorice, drink this rich, fabulously textured 1998 over the coming 2-3 decades.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
Corked. This was a vintage in which Chapoutier had a lot of cork problems and before they started to add a wax seal to all corks. (JR)
Dark crimson. Slightly dull nose but good. Convincing, vibrant if slightly dry fruit on the palate. Dry, insistent tannins. But confidence. Rather old-fashioned and brutal in structure. But no shortage of personality. One of the old school? At least there is some confidence here for long-term drinking… (JR)