Ermitage Le Meal Rouge, Maison M. Chapoutier 2009

Even inkier in color than the 2010, the 2009 Ermitage le Meal is as good as Hermitage gets. Locked and loaded with phenomenal notes of jammy black raspberries, creme de cassis, crushed violets, smoked earth and spice, it's thick and unctuous on the palate, with incredible density, a huge mid-palate and a layered, multi-dimensional, seamless, elegant texture that just keeps you coming back and begging for another sip. More hedonistic and voluptuous than the 2010, it should still evolve for just as long, yet have even a broader drink window.

The 2009 Ermitage Le Meal tastes like blood of Syrah. This sensual, full-bodied, voluptuously textured wine is like putting bloody steaks in a Cuisinart and extracting the juice and then fermenting it. A magnificent, layered, multidimensional effort exhibiting copious notes of camphor, charcoal, roasted herbs, blackberries, cassis and grilled meats, it will easily last 40-50+ years.