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M. Chapoutier Ermitage L'ermite Blanc 2012 750ml

size
750ml
country
France
region
Rhone Valley
appellation
Hermitage
WA
100
JD
100
WS
98
VM
95
Additional vintages
WA
100
Rated 100 by Wine Advocate
White wine simply doesn't get any better than the 2012 Ermitage l'Ermite Blanc. A massive, concentrated, yet insanely pure and focused effort, it has an incredible bouquet (almond paste, orange rind, caramelized peach), full-bodied richness, no hard edges and finish that just won't quit. Of all the 2012 whites, this has the most minerality, purity and precision. I'd happily drink it anytime over the coming 3-4 decades. ... More details
Image of bottle
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M. Chapoutier Ermitage L'ermite Blanc 2012 750ml

SKU 911108
Case Only Purchase
Long-term Pre-Arrival
$3509.46
/case
$584.91
/750ml bottle
Quantity
min order 6 bottles
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Professional Ratings
WA
100
JD
100
WS
98
VM
95
WA
100
Rated 100 by Wine Advocate
White wine simply doesn't get any better than the 2012 Ermitage l'Ermite Blanc. A massive, concentrated, yet insanely pure and focused effort, it has an incredible bouquet (almond paste, orange rind, caramelized peach), full-bodied richness, no hard edges and finish that just won't quit. Of all the 2012 whites, this has the most minerality, purity and precision. I'd happily drink it anytime over the coming 3-4 decades.
JD
100
Rated 100 by Jeb Dunnuck
Another perfect wine from this reference point estate, the 2012 L'Ermite Blanc tastes like the essence of this terroir as well as Marsanne, and I can’t imagine this variety getting better than this. Almond paste, caramelized citrus, white peach, flowers, and liquid rock-like nuances all define the bouquet, and it hits the palate with a massive amount of fruit, yet due to the magic of this terroir, it’s incredibly precise, pure, and chiseled, with no sensation of weight or heaviness. As I’ve written in the past, I’d happily drink bottles any time over the coming 3-4 decades.
WS
98
Rated 98 by Wine Spectator
This white delivers a weighty core of honey-edged melon, yellow apple, jasmine and white peach flavors, but the wine is racy and vibrant overall, with dried chamomile, quinine and fleur de sel notes running from start to finish. The finish ripples with energy and minerality, while the fruit courses on. Drink now through 2025. 40 cases imported.
VM
95
Rated 95 by Vinous Media
Vivid yellow-gold. Explosive, exotically perfumed orchard fruit, honey, iodine and mineral aromas pick up hints of quinine and jasmine with air. Bitter pear skin and Meyer lemon flavors gain weight as the wine opens up, with juicy acidity adding lift and focus. Closes on a ripe tangerine note, with serious mineral-driven persistence and lingering floral character. The combination of power and finesse here is striking.
Product Details
size
750ml
country
France
region
Rhone Valley
appellation
Hermitage
Additional vintages
Overview
Another perfect wine from this reference point estate, the 2012 L'Ermite Blanc tastes like the essence of this terroir as well as Marsanne, and I can’t imagine this variety getting better than this. Almond paste, caramelized citrus, white peach, flowers, and liquid rock-like nuances all define the bouquet, and it hits the palate with a massive amount of fruit, yet due to the magic of this terroir, it’s incredibly precise, pure, and chiseled, with no sensation of weight or heaviness. As I’ve written in the past, I’d happily drink bottles any time over the coming 3-4 decades.
barrel

Vintage: 2012

2012 has, so far been a positive year for wineries around the world. While it may be a little too early to speak of the wines being made in the northern hemisphere, European and North American wineries have already begun reporting that their harvesting season has been generally very good, and are predicting to continue with the kind of successes they saw in 2011. However, 2012 has been something of a late year for France, due to unpredictable weather throughout the summer, and the grapes were ripening considerably later than they did in 2011 (which was, admittedly, an exceptionally early year). French wineries are claiming, though, that this could well turn out to be advantageous, as the slow ripening will allow the resulting wines to express more flavour and features of the terroir they are grown in. The southern hemisphere has seen ideal climatic conditions in most of the key wine producing countries, and Australia and New Zealand particularly had a superb year, in particular with the Bordeaux varietal grapes that grow there and which love the humidity these countries received plenty of. Also enjoying a fantastic year for weather were wineries across Argentina and Chile, with the Mendoza region claiming that 2012 will be one of their best vintages of the past decade. Similar claims are being made across the Chilean wine regions, where Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon had an especially good year. These two grape varietals also produced characterful wines on the coastal regions of South Africa this year.
barrel

Region: Rhone Valley

The southern French wine region of the Rhone Valley has been home to wine-makers for over two thousand years, with the first grapevines of the region being cultivated in around 600 BCE when the ancient Greeks arrived with their knowledge of viticulture and eagerness to produce more wine. Today, the region is famed around the world for the excellence of its produce, and has dozens of wineries making the most of the wide range of grape varietals which flourish there. In the northern sub-region, the continental climate and brisk winds coming off the Central Massif allow wineries to grow a smaller range of varietals – predominantly Syrah, Marsanne, Roussane and Viognier, whereas the southern, more Mediterranean sub-region allows far more range. Here, dozens of varietals are grown for the production of white, red and rosé wines, all packed full of flavor and able to express the unique terroir they are grown on.
fields

Country: France

Year in, year out, France enjoys its prestigious reputation as the producer of the finest wines in the world. With a wine making history which spans several thousand years and owes its expertise to the Romans, it comes as little surprise that this most highly esteemed of the Old World wine countries continues to impress and enchant both novices and experts to this day. Despite the rise in quality of wines from neighboring European countries, not to mention the New World, the French wine industry continues to boom, with up to eight billion bottles being produced in recent years. However, France prides itself on always putting quality before quantity, and the wide range in fine produce is a testament to the dedication and knowledge of the wineries across the country. Indeed, from rich and complex reds to light and aromatic white wines, French wines are as varied and interesting as they are enjoyable to drink, making this country a firm favorite for wine lovers across the globe.
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Customer Reviews

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More Details
Winery M. Chapoutier
barrel

Vintage: 2012

2012 has, so far been a positive year for wineries around the world. While it may be a little too early to speak of the wines being made in the northern hemisphere, European and North American wineries have already begun reporting that their harvesting season has been generally very good, and are predicting to continue with the kind of successes they saw in 2011. However, 2012 has been something of a late year for France, due to unpredictable weather throughout the summer, and the grapes were ripening considerably later than they did in 2011 (which was, admittedly, an exceptionally early year). French wineries are claiming, though, that this could well turn out to be advantageous, as the slow ripening will allow the resulting wines to express more flavour and features of the terroir they are grown in. The southern hemisphere has seen ideal climatic conditions in most of the key wine producing countries, and Australia and New Zealand particularly had a superb year, in particular with the Bordeaux varietal grapes that grow there and which love the humidity these countries received plenty of. Also enjoying a fantastic year for weather were wineries across Argentina and Chile, with the Mendoza region claiming that 2012 will be one of their best vintages of the past decade. Similar claims are being made across the Chilean wine regions, where Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon had an especially good year. These two grape varietals also produced characterful wines on the coastal regions of South Africa this year.
barrel

Region: Rhone Valley

The southern French wine region of the Rhone Valley has been home to wine-makers for over two thousand years, with the first grapevines of the region being cultivated in around 600 BCE when the ancient Greeks arrived with their knowledge of viticulture and eagerness to produce more wine. Today, the region is famed around the world for the excellence of its produce, and has dozens of wineries making the most of the wide range of grape varietals which flourish there. In the northern sub-region, the continental climate and brisk winds coming off the Central Massif allow wineries to grow a smaller range of varietals – predominantly Syrah, Marsanne, Roussane and Viognier, whereas the southern, more Mediterranean sub-region allows far more range. Here, dozens of varietals are grown for the production of white, red and rosé wines, all packed full of flavor and able to express the unique terroir they are grown on.
fields

Country: France

Year in, year out, France enjoys its prestigious reputation as the producer of the finest wines in the world. With a wine making history which spans several thousand years and owes its expertise to the Romans, it comes as little surprise that this most highly esteemed of the Old World wine countries continues to impress and enchant both novices and experts to this day. Despite the rise in quality of wines from neighboring European countries, not to mention the New World, the French wine industry continues to boom, with up to eight billion bottles being produced in recent years. However, France prides itself on always putting quality before quantity, and the wide range in fine produce is a testament to the dedication and knowledge of the wineries across the country. Indeed, from rich and complex reds to light and aromatic white wines, French wines are as varied and interesting as they are enjoyable to drink, making this country a firm favorite for wine lovers across the globe.