2011 Ermitage Blanc Le Reverdy
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Tasting notes
(half marsanne and half roussanne, all raised in large older casks): Bright yellow-gold. Ripe peach and pear scents are complemented by a smoky mineral quality and a touch of iodine. At once rich and lively, offering intense pit fruit, honey, hazelnut and orange zest flavors. Gains energy and spiciness with air and finishes with excellent clarity and mineral-driven thrust. There's something vaguely Meursault-like going on here.
Critic scores
Average Score
Josh Raynolds
Josh Raynolds
More reviews and scores
The only 2011 white I was able to taste, the 2011 Ermitage Le Reverdy Blanc is a smoking effort that represents a solid value in Northern Rhone whites. Unfortunately, with only 119 cases produced, there's not much to go around. A blend of equal parts Roussanne and Marsanne, it offers brilliant aromas and flavors of sauteed pears, honeysuckle, toasted nut and crushed rock-like minerality to go with a full-bodied, rich and textured profile on the palate. It's a big wine, but it stays lively and fresh, and is an absolute joy to drink. Enjoy it over the coming decade or more. Across the board, this is a superb lineup of wines that delivers high quality at all price points. Run by the team at Chapoutier, headed by Pierre-Henri Morel, the wines are made by Damien Brisset. This was a large tasting and I've simply listed the wines in the order we went through them. Within a vintage, the wines are broken up into three categories, the traditional releases, the Lieu-Dit releases, and the selections parcellaires releases. The 2011s are slightly softer and more streamlined than the 2012s. As a whole, they offer charming, supple and more medium-bodied profiles that will reward earlier drinking. Looking at the traditional releases in 2011, these wines show classic, yet approachable and delicious characters. In most cases they represent good value. Importer: A French Paradox, Peoria, IL; tel. (309) 682-8994
Light yellow. Exotic, heady aromas of dried pit fruits, jasmine, marzipan and candied citrus peel, with a bright mineral overtone. Juicy and expansive on entry, then more taut in the mid-palate, offering vibrant orange and pear flavors and a spine of chalky minerality. A smoky note comes up on the long, sappy and penetrating finish, which repeats the floral note.