2011 Ermitage Le Meal
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Tasting notes
Nose is instantly engaging with an abundant freshness and touches of cherry red tomatoes. Tannins hold and that heat is back again, but will sort itself out over time. Redcurrants and blackberries are delivered on the palate in a linear manner.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
Similar to the '12 and showing the generosity and warmth of this site, the 2011 Ermitage le Meal is another sexy wine that's just hard to resist. Full-bodied and concentrated, it's slightly more red fruit-driven with black raspberries, crushed flowers, sweet spice and roasted herb aromas and flavors all emerging from the glass. One of the denser, more concentrated 2011s out there, it still shows the 2011 extroverted and straight-up hedonistic character and will drink well for another 20+ years.
Bright purple. Powerful, spice-accented aromas of raspberry, cherry and cola, with a smoky mineral topnote. Bitter cherry and red berry flavors show an appealingly silky texture and noteworthy energy. A lively core of minerality provides lift and sharpens the wine's sexy fruit qualities. Closes with excellent clarity, thrust and persistence.
Vivid purple. Sexy, high-pitched red fruit aromas are complicated by notes of Szechuan peppercorn, potpourri and smoky minerals. Powerful but elegant as well, offering palate-staining black raspberry, cola and violet pastille flavors and a strong mineral underpinning. Finishes with superb clarity, spiciness and length, leaving a smoky mineral note behind. Here the liveliness of the vintage is enhanced by surprising depth and power, which suggests that the wine will be a good cellar candidate.