Quoted value
Wine Spectator - Mai 2011
L'Ermitage Le Méal Rouge 2010 est plein de vie, avec une belle acidité qui soutient une riche complexité associant mûre et anis. Les tanins sont polis, la bouche est très longue, avec des notes d’épices, de tabac brun qui commencent tout juste à se développer. La séve se trouve profondément ancrée dans le fruit.
Robert Parker 99
From one of the warmest sites on the Hill of Hermitage, the 2010 Ermitage Le Meal begs comparison with the famed Jaboulet Hermitage La Chapelle (which is made primarily from the same parcel). The wine’s huge color, which resembles vintage port, is followed by sumptuous notes of steak au poivre, creme de cassis, blackberries, acacia flowers and scorched earth. Unctuously textured, full-bodied, incredibly refined and precise with amazing intensity as well as a finish that lasts nearly 60 seconds, this colossal effort is one of the greatest wines I have ever tasted from Le Meal. It should hit its peak in 15 years and last for 50 or more.
Robert Parker (94-97)
The 2011 Ermitage Le Meal exhibits aromas and flavors of graphite, beef blood/steak tartare, blackberry liqueur, acacia flowers and scorched earth. It is full-bodied, dense and concentrated.
Jeb Dunnuck (The Rhone Report): 99+
Borderline perfection and a monumental Syrah in the making, the 2010 M. Chapoutier Ermitage Le Méal offers up a classic, age-worthy profile that is only for those with cold cellars and plenty of patience. Awesome in every way, it delivers deep, rich aromas and flavors of smoked dark fruits, salted beef, liquid minerality, sappy flowers, and hints of chocolate to go with a full-bodied, incredibly concentrated, structured, and backwards palate. The antitheses of upfront and early drinking, it needs a solid decade or more to fully integrate all of its components, but will be spectacular when it does. It will have upwards of three decades or more of ultimate longevity and hats off the Michel Chapoutier for continuing to fashion wines in this cellar worthy style.
Wine Spectator - Mai 2011
L'Ermitage Le Méal 2009 est expressif, avec des notes de groseille rouge macérée, de prune, d'anis et chargé d'épices douces en finale.
Les meilleurs vins de France 2011 (guide la RVF)
18/20
Wine Advocate # 175 Février 2008
95-97. The 2006 Ermitage Le Meal has pure creme de cassis, camphor, truffle, and an earthiness, a rich, full-bodied, powerful mouthfeel, a beautiful purity, and sensational intensity, but I have to rate it behind Les Greffieux at this stage. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2040.
Wine Advocate # 175 Février 2008
96.There are 481 cases of the black/purple 2005 Ermitage Le Meal. As always, classic blackberry, asphalt, charcoal, and beef blood notes jump from the glass of this intense wine. Full-bodied, with staggering concentration and a personality not terribly dissimilar from a first-growth Pauillac, but showing no evidence of oak whatsoever (and that is in spite of being aged in 100% new oak casks), this wine needs 10-12 years of bottle age, and should keep for 50-100 years.
Wine Advocate #163 (Feb 2006)
90-92 / 100
Wine Advocate #156 (Dec 2004)
98-100/100. The 2003 Ermitage Le Meal’s inky/purple hue is followed by an explosive bouquet of white flowers, creme de cassis, melted asphalt, and black truffles. These characteristics follow through in the amazingly intense as well as persistent flavors. Even though this is an awesome effort, it is only the third finest of these 2003 Hermitages. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2050.
Guide Bettane et Desseauve 2005
9,5/10
Robert PARKER
Note : 98-100 / 100
Revue du Vin de France (juillet 2005)
3,5 étoiles sur 5. Très serré, peu évolué au nez, il offre une bouche droite, riche et massive. il doit se mettre en place, mais la matière est très belle et le fruit éclate.
Robert PARKER
Note : 99+ / 100
Clives COATES (THE VINE / UK) July 2000
Rich, intense, fat and concentrated. Fullish body. Very good grip. This is a super example of the vintage. Ripe and vigorous. Long and very lovely. Very classy. From 2006.
Robert PARKER
Note : 93 / 100
Steve TANZER (International Wine Cellar / USA) Février / Mars 2000
Dégusté à la barrique. Robe lumineuse rubis intense. Arômes musqués et minéraux de fruits noirs et de café expresso au nez de ce vin vraiment serré et très puissant ; les flaveurs de petits fruits noirs sont extrêmement vives et pénétrantes grâce à une acidité vibrante. La finale aux tannins durs, offre une longueur fabuleuse. Cet Ermitage passera au moins 18 mois en fût, selon Valérie Mathieu (l'oenologue adjointe) ; le 1997, en comparaison, a été mis en bouteilles en janvier dernier. 92-95.
Steve TANZER (International Wine Cellar / USA) Février / Mars 2000
Tasted from barrel. Bright full ruby. Musky, minerally aromas of black fruits and espresso. Tightly wrapped and powerful, with vibrant acids giving the dark berry flavors great cut and penetration. Very powerful wine, finishing with great length and hard tannins. This wine will spend at least 18 months in barrel, says assistant enologist Valérie Mathieu ; the '97, in comparison, was bottled last January. 92-95.
(THE WINE SPECTATOR / USA) Juillet 2000
Beautiful. Supple tannins, full-bodied and balanced, with rich and ripe fruit. If seduction is the standart, this is hedonistic, with subtle smoke and toast character along wit hred berry and blackberry concentration. Drink now through 2010. 93
Robert M. PARKER Jr (THE WINE ADVOCATE / USA) Novembre 1999
The 1998 Hermitage "Le Méal" is even better than my rating, but it was particularly closed. An elegantly-styled, black/purple-colored effort, it reveals beautiful, pure aromas of black currants, licorice, melted road tar, and floral scents. Full-bodied and stylish, with moderate tannin and an impressively long finish, this wine will require 10-15 years of cellaring. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2050.
Note : 96 / 100
Clives COATES (THE VINE / UK) July 2000
Full colour. Very concentrated. Quite tannic. This has fine acidity. Long, stylish and potentially very opulent. Long. Very lovely, very complex finish. Marvellous follow-through. Very classy. This is very fine. From 2005.
(LE GUIDE HACHETTE DES VINS 2001 / France) Novembre 2000
Une présence forte dans notre dégustation. M.Chapoutier, dont on sait qu’il travaille en biodynamie depuis 10 ans, a proposé plusieurs vins venus de terroirs différents. A plus de 500 F, vous trouverez, avec une étoile chacun, les cuvées l’Ermite rouge 1998 et le Pavillon rouge 1998 ; et ce Méal très puissant, qui, comme ses frères, a besoin d’une longue garde avant d’être servi sur les meilleurs mets. Cet Hermitage est tout en fruits rouges macérés, épices, santal… sur une matière ample dont les tanins, marqués par le boisé, devront se fondre.
Steve TANZER (International Wine Cellar / USA) Février / Mars 2000
Robe lumineuse rouge moyen. Arômes renversants de cerise noire, de cassis, d'herbes de Provence rôties, de minéraux et de viande fumée au nez de ce vin vraiment serré et bien défini qui présente une acidité fraîche pour le millésime ; il est subtil, élégant et extrêmement jeune. La finale porte des tannins très fins et développe une persistance superbe. 92 (+?).
Steve TANZER (International Wine Cellar / USA) Février / Mars 2000
Bright medium red. Knockout aromas of black cherry, cassis, roasted Provençal herbs, minerals and smoked meat. Tightly wrapped and nicely, delineated, with fresh acidity for the vintage. Subtle, classy and extremely youthful. Finishes with very fine tannins and superb persistence. 92 (+?).
(THE WINE SPECTATOR / USA) Juillet 2000
A surprising Hermitage that grows on you. Light in color and aroma, mature, with delicate red berry, fresh muchroom and plum character. Has a soft texture, but underneath there is an interesting terroir-driven tannin structure. Complex flavors kicks in unexpectedly on the finish. Drink now through 2006. 90
Stephen TANZER (INTERNATIONAL WINE CELLAR / USA) Février / Mars 1999
Belle robe rubis. Le nez présente des arômes relevés de violette, de tomate, de viande fumée et une légère note florale qui se répète en bouche. Ce vin est très fermé en milieu de bouche, pour le moment. Cet Ermitage n’est pas particulièrement ample ou onctueux mais il est parfumé et mentholé. Cependant, je ne retrouve pas en lui les notes profondes d’une grande année.
Robert M. PARKER Jr (THE WINE ADVOCATE / USA) February 1999
The 1997 Hermitage Le Méal displays more fat, plumpness, and richness, without losing the floral, minerality so obvious in the 1996. lt is a finesse-styled Hermitage, with more concentrated black fruits, and a high-toned, structured, well-delineated personality. Because of low acidity and a plump, plush texture, this wine will be approachable at an earlier age. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2035.
Note : 91-94 / 100
Clives COATES (THE VINE / UK) July 2000
Fine colour and style. Medium-full body. Very lovely fruit. Balanced. Not a blockbuster but really lovely. Long. Fine. From 2004.
Robert M. PARKER Jr (THE WINE ADVOCATE / USA) February 1999
Michel Chapoutier continues to offer a dizzying array of single-vineyard wines from the slopes of Hermitage. In addition to the firm's most widely distributed cuvée, La Sizeranne, there is the fabulous Le Pavillon, and, since 1996, " Le Méal " and " L'Ermite ". All of these wines are outstanding, and, save for Le Méal, close to perfection. The 1996 Hermitage Le Méal (Chapoutier calls it the Lafite-Rothschild of Hermitage) is a mineral-dominated, high acid, medium to full-bodied, high-strung, extremely intellectual wine. lt exhibits a saturated ruby / purple color, as well as mineral-dominated aromatics with notes of cassis, kirsch, and underbrush. Made from 80-year old vines, it requires 10-15 years of cellaring. Although not the most charming, opulent, or viscous style of Hermitage, it does possess the strongest terroir character of any of Chapoutier's wines. I might call it the Ausone of Hermitage! Anticipated maturity: 2012-2040.
Note : 92 / 100
Stephen TANZER (INTERNATIONAL WINE CELLAR / USA) Février / Mars 1999
Robe rubis foncé. Le nez, séveux, exhale des arômes de kirsch, de cassis, de violette, de fumé et d’épices. La bouche est très serrée actuellement car l’acidité domine. Je ne retrouve pas aujourd’hui dans ce vin toute la richesse d’un hermitage mais il est toutefois précis, très fermement structuré et très jeune. La finale porte des tanins fermes et une touche de chêne vanillé. Ce vin devrait bien vieillir, lentement.
Stephen TANZER (INTERNATIONAL WINE CELLAR / USA) February / March 1999
Dark ruby-red. Kirsch, cassis, violet, smoke and spices on the sappy nose. Very bound-up in the mouth today, with strong acidity dominating. I do not currently get the sheer richness of Hermitagen but this is precise, very firmly structured and very young. Finishes with firm tannins and a note of vanillin oak. Should age slowly and well.
