2015 Ermitage L'Ermite Blanc
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I’ve probably rated the L'Ermite Blanc a perfect score more times than any other wine out there, and the 2015 Ermitage L'Ermite Blanc is indeed another perfect wine. It offers a huge nose of buttered citrus, charcoal, liquid rocks, honey, and even a background meatiness that’s something to behold. This carries to a full-bodied, powerful, concentrated white that has good acidity, an incredible sense of minerality, and an almost red wine-like level of structure. It’s going to see its 50th birthday in fine form and is another magical white from the genius of Michel Chapoutier. Bravo!
Critic scores
Jeb Dunnuck
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
Bright gold. Powerful, mineral-accented orange pith, honeydew melon, nectarine and iodine scents show superb focus and vivacity. Displays an impressive blend of depth and finesse, offering deeply concentrated yet lithe citrus and pit fruit, honey and musky truffle flavors complemented by a subtle anise quality. Finishes remarkably long, delivering emphatic mineral cut and lift and suave, lingering floral and mineral notes.
Vivid yellow-gold. Penetrating aromas of ripe citrus and orchard fruits, jasmine and iodine are joined by hints of chalky minerals, fennel and toasty lees. Juicy and deeply concentrated on the palate, offering powerful pear nectar, Meyer lemon and peach liqueur flavors that show superb focus and minerally drive. The lees and floral notes come back strong on the incisive finish, which hangs on with outstanding focus and persistence.
One of the most singular wines I’m able to taste each year is unquestionably the l’Ermite Blanc from Chapoutier and it certainly lives up to the billing in 2015. Offering what I can only describe as a liquid rock (a liqueur of rocks?) character intermixed with notes of buttered citrus, pineapple, smoked meats, charcoal and toast, the 2015 Ermitage l’Ermite is full-bodied, decadent and locked and loaded on the palate. It needs 2-3 years of cellaring and I suspect will keep for half a century