Ermitage Le Méal Blanc, Maison M. Chapoutier 2021

What an extraordinary interplay of smoky fresh pineapple and stony mineral character this super-concentrated but medium-bodied white Rhone has. The south and the north of wine (in the widest sense) meet in this singularity of the marsanne grape. Gigantic minerality in the totally focused and extremely long, pure finish. From a steep, south-facing slope. Enormous aging potential. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink or hold.

From the warmer, south-facing Le Méal lieu-dit and always the first to be harvested, the 2021 Ermitage Le Méal Blanc is another pure, elegant, incredibly impressive white offering notes of honeyed stone fruits, roasted hazelnuts, brioche, and crushed rock. Medium to full-bodied, concentrated, and opulent, it's more expressive and expansive than the more chiseled, elegant De L'Orée, but the quality is basically the same. It too needs 3-4 years of bottle age.

Deep gold. This offers honey and tension and a glorious cocktail with floral, blossomy notes. Complete with a lightly bitter note and already wonderful. Long and glorious. You could lose yourself in this. Gorgeous when first tasted but after L’Ermite it admittedly tastes blowsier… Drink 2022-2040.