Much more open, fleshy and sexy, the 2012 Hermitage Blanc was just bottled a month prior to this tasting. Coming from l’Ermite, Les Rocoules, Maison Blanche and Peleat lieux-dits, it’s always a rough blend of 80% Marsanne and 20% Roussanne that’s aged in barrel. Loaded with notions of honeysuckle, orange marmalade, powered rock, buttered citrus and green almond, it’s full-bodied, rich, upfront and fruit loaded. While I think it will be a relatively accessible early in its life, it has the concentration to hold for two decades. Deb Dunnuck, 30th Dec 2014, Wine Advocate
Just bottled, the 2011 Hermitage Blanc also shows the richer side of Hermitage with its full-bodied, voluptuously textured and up-front profile. Honeysuckle, licorice, toast, citrus oil and liquid mineral-like qualities all emerge from this beauty, and it stays beautifully fresh and focused on the palate. A blend of mostly Marsanne, yet with roughly 20% Roussanne, from the l’Ermite, Les Rocoules, Maison Blanche and Peleat lieux-dits, this substantial white should be consumed over the coming 2-4 years, or forgotten for a decade or more. It will have over two decades of longevity. Jeb Dunnuck, 30th Dec 2013, Wine Advocate
Even richer and more concentrated than the 2011, the blockbuster-styled 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc is almost overflowing with notes of marmalade, ripe pineapple, white flowers and assorted honeyed nuances. A big, ripe and layered white, it stays remarkably fresh and lively on the palate, although I suspect there's little real acidity. Beautiful on all counts, it's so good now, I don't see a need to hold off, but it will be very long-lived. Special Report (Sep 2015), The Wine Advocate, 14th Sep 2015, Jeb Dunnuck
From a warm site and a hot vintage, the 2009 Ermitage le Meal Blanc was harvested on the August 28, and aged in 100% new French oak. Flirting with perfection and a full-bore, exotic, almost over-the-top expression of Marsanne, it has less minerality than the 2010, yet more of everything else with boatloads of caramelized fruits, buttered citrus, white flowers, honey and crushed rocks all soaring from the glass. Rich, layered, exuberant, unctuous and exotic, with stunning freshness despite it's thickness and weight, drink this incredible white anytime over the coming 30-40 years. Special Report (Sep 2015), The Wine Advocate, 14 Sep 2015, Jeb Dunnuck
There are two wines readers should keep an eye out for, even though they are very limited in availability (just under 300 cases of each). Both are potentially immortal offerings. The 2009 Ermitage Vin de Paille and 2010 Ermitage Vin de Paille are both made from the l’Ermite lieu-dit. Both possess deep gold colors as well as off-the-chart levels of residual sugar, acidity and concentration. These massive, unctuously textured, phenomenally great sweet dessert wines have incredible precision as well as intensity. Available only in half bottles, these connoisseur’s collectibles are meant to be drunk over the next 50-100 years. The Wine Advocate, Dec 23, 2011, Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Beaucastel’s 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape has turned out even better out of bottle than I predicted. An inky/ruby/purple color is followed by a glorious nose of blue and black fruits, truffles, pen ink, licorice, and meat juices as well as glorious levels of acidity and sweet tannin, buttressing the fruit’s fabulous freshness and vibrancy. This full-bodied effort still displays considerable tannin, no doubt because of the relatively high Mourvedre content. It should resolve its tannins in 2-4 years, and last for 25 or more. 185, The Wine Advocate, 31 Oct 2009, Robert M. Parker, Jr.