Cotations
Robert Parker 100
Tasting like the concentrated blood from an aged and grilled strip steak, the 2010 Ermitage Le Pavillon boasts a black/purple color along with creme de cassis, camphor, pen ink, white flower and lead pencil shaving characteristics in its massive, full-bodied personality. It almost defies description because of its ethereal concentration and off-the-charts extract levels. This is not for the faint of heart, or those who lack patience, as it will require 10-15 years of bottle age, and, as previously stated, will keep for 50 or more. There are just over 1,000 cases of the 2010 Le Pavillon, another perfect wine in the constellation of profound wines produced by Michel Chapoutier.
Robert Parker (97-100)
Flirting with perfection, the 2011 Ermitage Le Pavillon is the most remarkable of these four cuvees. Intense blackberry liqueur notes intermixed with notions of creme de cassis, charcoal, licorice and black truffles are followed by a monumentally sized wine with colossal concentration. It is another masterpiece of richness, power, symmetry and complexity. Give it 3-5 years of cellaring and drink it over the following 25-30 years.
Jeb Dunuck (The Rhone Report): 100
Massive and backwards, with a more masculine profile than the l’Ermite, the 2010 M. Chapoutier Ermitage Le Pavillon is a blend of 100% Syrah, from 90-100 year old vines, that spent 18-20 months in 30% new French oak. Seriously endowed, with deep, rich, and mineral-drench aromas of black currants, crushed stone, licorice, leather, and smoked herbs, it flows onto the palate with thrilling levels of extract, huge tannin, and a blockbuster finish. The most age worthy of the lineup, it desperately needs 8-10 years of bottle age, and will have upwards of three decades or more of total longevity.
Wine Spectator - Mai 2011
L'Ermitage Le Pavillon Rouge 2010 n'est pas aussi juteux dans sa structure que d'habitude, bien qu'il offre ce profil distinctif mélangeant l'anis aux très longs tanins de la poudre de cacao. Sa finale est aujourd'hui plus courte que pour le Méal mais cette force un peu plus brutale demande encore à s'harmoniser.
Wine Spectator - Mai 2011
L'Ermitage Le Pavillon 2009 est beaucoup civilisé que d'habitude (généralement la "bruyère" est marquée) avec de superbes arômes de cassis et des tanins polis qui donne de la longueur à une finale dense.
Wine Advocate # 175 Février 2008
96-100. Potentially perfect is the 2006 Ermitage Le Pavillon. This is a monumental wine that also reminds me of the 1991. Inky black/purple to the rim, with an extraordinary nose of subtle smoke, melted licorice, creme de cassis, truffle, and graphite, full-bodied, powerful, with elevated tannins, but so sweet and velvety, the acidity gives the wine a freshness and precision as well as transparency. This is amazing stuff! Anticipated maturity: 2012-2045.
Wine Advocate # 175 Février 2008
98. The biggest production cuvee, the 2005 Ermitage Le Pavillon (1,067 cases in this vintage) has a dense purple color, the classic acacia flower, graphite-based, smoky creme de cassis nose with a tremendous intensity and a full-bodied power and richness that is awesome. These are monumental wines, and when you think that this wine, much like most of its siblings, is made from yields of 12-18 hectoliters per hectare, the explanation for its concentration and extraordinary expression of terroir is obvious.
Wine Advocate #163 (Feb 2006)
91-94 / 100
Wine Advocate #156 (Dec 2004)
99-100/100. An awesome effort, the 2003 Ermitage La Pavillon is produced from an old vineyard in Les Bessards. Tasting this wine is akin to a religious drinking experience. An endlessly complex, extraordinarily rich, complicated offering, it may last a century. There are 500 cases of this wine, which smells like acacia flowers intermixed with black currant liqueur, melted licorice, Chinese black tea, and incense. With supple tannin, an unctuous texture, and a massive finish, this is a legend in the making. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2060+.
Guide Bettane et Desseauve 2005
9,5/10
Robert PARKER
Note : 93-95+ / 100
Revue du Vin de France (juillet 2005)
5 étoiles sur 5. Sur un fruit savoureux, avec une allonge magnifique, le vin s'étire éternellement. Equilibre magsitral et gourmandise rare. Bravo.
Robert PARKER
Note : 98+ /100
Clives COATES (THE VINE / UK) July 2000
Really opulent. Almost a touch of surmaturity. Rich, balanced and fat. Very good style. Fine. From 2007+.
Robert PARKER
Note : 96 / 100
Robert M. PARKER Jr (THE WINE ADVOCATE / USA) Novembre 1999
The 1998 Ermitage " Le Pavillon " and 1998 Hermitage " l'Ermite " are astonishing wines. Yields for both were around 15 hectoliters per hectare. The black/purple-colored 1998 Ermitage " Le Pavillon " reveals a classic, inky, mineral, cassis, and licorice-dominated nose with no trace of the 100% new oak in which it is aged. The gorgeously pure wine possesses fabulous intensity, layer upon layer of concentration, high tannin, and a silky character that suggest full physiological grape maturity was obtained. The finish lasts for over a minute. As the wine sat in the glass, aromas of licorice, leather, and smoky black fruits (primarily blackberry and cassis) emerged. This beauty could merit a perfect rating when released next year. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2050.
Note : 98 / 100
Steve TANZER (International Wine Cellar / USA) Février / Mars 2000
Dégusté à la barrique. Robe rubis moyen profond. Arômes de mûre et de pierre à fusil au nez de ce vin riche, velouté et très plein en bouche, offrant des flaveurs puissantes de fruits noirs enrichies de notes de minéraux et de chêne. Sur la finale, le fruit minéral et explosif ainsi que les tannins mûrs et nobles envahissent tout le palais. Wâouh ! 93-97.
Steve TANZER (International Wine Cellar / USA) Février / Mars 2000
Tasted from barrel. Medium-deep ruby. Aromas of blackberry and gunflint. Lush, sweet and very full in the mouth ; strong dark fruit flavors complicated by mineral and oak notes. Explosive, minerally finishing fruit and noble, ripe tannins suffuse the entire patate. Wow! 93-97.
Clives COATES (THE VINE / UK) July 2000
Full, concentrated, tannic and oaky. Splendid grip. Very fine on the palate. Brilliant grip. Full flavoured. This has great class. Very, very lovely. Still young. From 2008.
Steve TANZER (International Wine Cellar / USA) Février / Mars 2000
Robe éclatante rubis profond. Le nez déploie des arômes de mûre, de violette, de goudron, de cirage et de gibier ainsi qu'une légère note florale ; il est à la fois vibrant et surmûri. Les flaveurs de cerise noire confite, de cassis et de réglisse sont ultraconcentrées et merveilleusement intenses. Un vin extrêmement persistant, d'une finesse remarquable qui présente en outre une structure puissante destinée à une longue garde. Une des stars de ce millésime. 94 (+?).
Steve TANZER (International Wine Cellar / USA) Février / Mars 2000
Bright deep ruby,. Blackberry, violet, tar, shoe polish and game on the nose, plus a light floral note ; at once vibrant and surmuri. Superconcentrated, remarkably intense flavors of crystallized black cherry, cassis and licorice. An extremely persistent wine of noseworthy. Finesse, yet also one with a powerful structure for aging. One of the standouts of the vintage. 94 (+?)
Stephen TANZER (INTERNATIONAL WINE CELLAR / USA) Février / Mars 1999
Robe d’un rouge plein. Le nez, renversant, exhale un parfum ineffable de violette avec des notes de viande et de fer. Juteux et doté d’une très belle intensité aromatique, ce vin n’est pas un monument de puissance mais il est tout en élégance. Son caractère floral est rafraîchissant par rapport au millésime. La finale explose de fruit et souligne des tanins très suaves. Je ne me rappelle pas avoir goûté un Hermitage Le Pavillon aussi fin que celui-là.
Robert M. PARKER Jr (THE WINE ADVOCATE / USA) February 1999
Both 1997 and 1996 vintages of the famed Hermitage Le Pavillon flirt with perfection. The 1997 Hermitage Le Pavillon displays a similarly saturated purple color, and a fabulously intense nose of blackberry liqueur intermixed with floral scents, smoke, licorice, tar, and Chinese black tea aromas. There is wonderful concentration, massive body, and a monster finish in this decadently rich Hermitage. lt possesses lower acidity than the 1996, but every bit as much concentration, extract, and length. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2035.
Note : 96-98 / 100
(THE WINE SPECTATOR / USA) Juillet 2000
Silky and fruity, with a core of wet earth and spicy mocha, this full-bodied wine is both fresh and rich. Chewy and crisp on the lingering finish. Drink now through 2005. 88
(L'ENTREPRISE Spécial Vins / France) Octobre 2000
Rouge intense à reflets violacés, attaque puissante en bouche, finale veloutée. A boire sur un cuissot de chamois.
(L'ENTREPRISE Spécial Vins / France) Octobre 2000
Rouge intense à reflets violacés, attaque puissante en bouche, finale veloutée. A boire sur un cuissot de chamois.
Clives COATES (THE VINE / UK) July 2000
Rich, stylish and gently oaky. Very ripe indeed. Higher-toned than the red Ermitage “Le Méal” 1997. Ripe, medium-full bodied, quite oaky on the palate. Good grip. This has lots of depth in an unagressive way. Subtle. Very fine. From 2005.
(LE GUIDE DES VINS DES SOMMELIERS 2000 / France) Octobre 1999
Robe rubis intense aux reflets pourpre foncé, bonne viscosité. Premier nez discret sur une légère touche fumée, évoluant à l'aération sur des arômes complexes et élégants de framboise mûre, de goudron et de noix. Belle structure fruitée en bouche, onctueuse, corsée et volumineuse. Finale sur des saveurs de tabac et de réglisse. 100 % syrah issue de vieilles vignes avec un tout petit rendement. Vinification en cuves bois sans filtration. Un hermitage sensationnel, harmonieux et parfaitement équilibré. Il lui faudra au moins 15 ans pour exprimer le meilleur de lui-même. Un magnifique flacon. A boire à partir de : 2002. Maturité : 2010. A boire avant : 2015. Ouvrir : 2 h avant. Servir : en carafe à 15°.
Robert M. PARKER Jr (THE WINE ADVOCATE / USA) February 1999
Both 1997 and 1996 vintages of the famed Hermitage Le Pavillon flirt with perfection. The 1996 Hermitage Le Pavillon needs at least a decade of cellaring. The wine possesses a saturated black/purple color, in addition to fabulously sweet aromas of blackberries, framboise, blueberries, violets, roasted herbs, and meats. Massively concentrated and full-bodied, with staggering levels of extract, this wine is super pure, with high tannin, good but not intrusive acidity, and a 45-second finish. This is one of the superstars of the vintage in France! Anticipated maturity : 2010-2050
Note : 96 / 100
Stephen TANZER (INTERNATIONAL WINE CELLAR / USA) Février / Mars 1999
Robe rouge-rubis saturé. Le nez offre des arômes profonds de cassis, de myrtille, de gibier, de fumée de bois et de fer. La bouche, épaisse et puissante, présente une saveur de gibier. Ce vin a une texture et une épaisseur qui n’apparaissent pas encore dans le Méal. Il montre des saveurs primaires de petits fruits noirs et de violette. La très longue finale explose de fruit et révèle d’énormes tanins mâcheux. Ce Pavillon n’est pas particulièrement sauvage ni spécialement austère. Il sera grandiose après 7 ou 8 ans de garde. Une réussite extraordinaire pour ce millésime.
Stephen TANZER (INTERNATIONAL WINE CELLAR / USA) February / March 1999
Saturated ruby. Deep aromas of cassis, blueberry, game, woodsmoke and iron. Thick, powerful and gamey in the mouth ; has the texture and thickness not yet shown by the Méal. Primal dark berry and violet notes. Explosive fruit on the very long aftertaste, which features huge, chewy tannins. Neither particularly sauvage nor especially austere. Should be a beauty with seven or eight years of bottle aging. A great performance for the vintage.
(International Wine Cellar / France) Février/Mars 1998
Belle robe rubis profond. Nez de myrtille, de minéraux et de fer. Un vin doux et souple,intensement parfumé mais pas trop épais grâce à une superbe précision dans ses arômes. Pas du tout dans le genre monumental, mais plutôt élégant, frais, bien charpenté et d'une belle longueur en finale. Il est moins austère et plus facile à déguster jeune que d'habitude. Les tannins sont forts mais en harmonie avec le vin.
(WINE SPECTATOR / USA) Novembre 1998
What a silky wine. Lush and ripe, with elegance, it coats the palate with the finest, most velvety tannins, providing loads of pleasure with its mocha, plum, wild berry, grilled meat flavors. Full-bodied, with excellent intensity on the smooth, lingering finish. Delicious. Drink now through 2008.
Robert M. PARKER Jr (THE WINE ADVOCATE / USA) October 1997
This wine offers an amazingly opaque black / purple color, and a wonderful sweet nose of Asian spices, roasted meats, blackberries, cassis, smoke, hickory, and truffles. The wine possesses sensational texture and length awesome richness, and a full-bodied, massive personality with no hard edges. It is another great Pavillon that is once more a candidate for perfection. Anticipated maturity : 2012-2035.
Satya DAS (Edmonton journal / Canada) Mars 1998
Belle robe, très profonde, intense. Premier nez très exotique, fruits, poivre et épice. Nez remarquable, énorme et complexe. Assez de matière pour combattre les tannins. Longue vie à attendre. Persistence étonnante, le sommet en Hermitage, sans pareil. On comprend enfin pourquoi l'Hermitage était plus renomé que Laffite au 19ème siècle.
Robert M. PARKER Jr (THE WINE ADVOCATE / USA) October 1997
This wine is also magnificent. The wine is more accessible than the 1996 (due to lower acidity and more glycerin and fruit), with a magnificent black / purple color, and layers of cassis fruit, smoky, roasted meat, and mineral characteristics that are the result of barrel fermentation and high extraction of fruit. It is huge but not heavy, gorgeously proportioned, and dazzlingly well-defined. A monster Hermitage of immense proportions, it somehow manages to keep everything in balance. This backward Pavillon will require 10-12 years of cellaring. It should age well through the first half of the next century.
(WINE SPECTATOR / USA) October 1997
Beautifully defined, characteristic flavors of black cherry, spice, licorice and violets. Medium-bodied, perfectly focused, firm and crisp. Marries international style with local character.
Steve TANZER (INTERNATIONAL WINE CELLAR / USA) January / February 1997
Deep ruby to the rim. Somewhat reduced, profound aromas of cassis, black cherry, chocolate, damp earth and game ; shows an almost port-like ripeness and more complexity than the 1994. Like a reduction of small dark berries on the palate ; has a suggestion of eau de vie like sweetness. Huge, silky and deeply spicy ; sappy and palate staining. Great purity of fruit. Ripe, sweet tannins coat the entire mouth. Fabulous potential.
Robert M. PARKER Jr (THE WINE ADVOCATE / USA) October 1996
It should prove to be another perfect wine. The harvest did not begin until early October, several weeks after the last drop of rain. The result is an opaque black/purple-colored wine that is just beginning to reaveal its exquisite potential. It appears to possess the concentration of the profound 1990 and 1989, yet better acidity, resulting in a more backward and delineated wine. Its immense richness, huge extract, and formidable power and length suggest this wine needs 10-15 years of cellaring. I would not be surprised to see it drinking dazzingly well in 2050. Crammed with fruit, purity, and depth, this is another winemaking tour de force.
Note : 99+ / 100
Clive COATES (THE VINE / England) Septembre 1996
Splendid colour. This is still young. Splendid backward concentrated nose. Full and tannic. Very rich indeed and with a very good grip. Marvelous fruit though. Real grip, vigour and intensity. 2005-2025.
(WINE & SPIRITS / USA) February 1997
The 1994 Le Pavillon is partially hidden from view, encased as it is in new oak that dominates the aroma until sufficient air draws it away. Then it begins to reveal an astonishing deph of flavor, with a liquid density to the fruit that verges on the obsessive. To correlate those syrah flavors to black raspberry and mulberry is to miss the point. This is pure Hermitage, the dark, essence of a sun-drench, stone canyon wall along the Rhône. Ten or fifteen years from now, when Le Pavillon is fully mature, it may be one of the most delicious wines you will ever drink.
Steve TANZER (INTERNATIONAL WINE CELLAR / USA) January / February 1997
Deep red ruby color ; very bright, vibrant aromas of licorice, minerals, myrtille and other small dark berries. Thick and extremely concentrated, yet penetrating. Has a superb minerally vibrancy in the mouth, and a palate-staining, brooding aftertaste, with powerful tannins and a note of licorice. An extremely impressive Hermitage that will require extended bottle aging.
Robert M. PARKER Jr (THE WINE ADVOCATE / USA) October 1996
Another blockbuster, phenomenally concentrated wine. Le Pavillon is generally among the top 3 or 4 wines of France in every vintage ! The 1994's opaque purple color, and wonderfully sweet, pure nose of cassis and other black fruits intertwined with minerals, are followed by a wine of profound richness, great complexity, and full body. It is almost the essence of blackberries and cassis. There is huge tannin in this monster Hermitage, that somehow manages to keep its balance and elegance.
Note : 96 /100
Clive COATES (THE VINE / England) Septembre 1996
Good colour. This is gently oaky. Very cool and rich. Fullish. Beautifully mannered. Cool. Very concentrated. This has a slight reserve to it which reminds me of 1988. Lovely complexity. Really elegant. Very fine indeed. 2004-2014.
(LA REVUE DU VIN DE FRANCE / France) Juin 1994
Une matière également serrée, mais plus douce que l'Hermitage "Monier de la Sizeranne". Beaucoup de finesse.
Irvin WOLKOFF (THE MEDICAL POST / Canada) January 1996
Offers explosive black fruit, leather, farmyard, spice and pepper on the nose and wraps them in lovely acid and fine tannin on the palate.
Robert M. PARKER Jr (THE WINE ADVOCATE / USA) June 1994
Opaque black color, and penetrating fragrance of minerals, spices, black fruits, and vanillin. Super-concentrated, full-bodied, and dense, with layer upon layer of fruit, this is a nearly perfect wine from an appallingly horrendous vintage.
Note : 93 / 100
Robert M. PARKER Jr (THE WINE ADVOCATE / USA) June 1994
Similarly-styled, it offers an exotic, Asian spice, mineral, licorice, and essence of blackcurrant and black-cherry-scented nose. Amazingly rich and intense, with a finish that lasts for over a minute, this is another monumental effort. It is slightly lower in acidity than the 1993 and 1991, but wow, what an intensity and length !
Note : 95 / 100
Thomas MATTHEWS (WINE SPECTATOR / USA) November 1995
Ambitious, offering plenty of ripeness, plenty of extraction and plenty of oak. Tough now, but cassis, smoke and bitter chocolate flavors promise to unwind with time in bottle.
Michael COOPER (LIQUOR LINK / New Zealand) May 1995
Based on extremely low-cropping vines, some dating from the midnineteenth century. Purple-black and hefty, with an arresting array of black fruit and spice, firmly tannic flavours.
Robert M. PARKER Jr (THE WINE ADVOCATE / USA) June 1994
It is another perfect wine. The saturated black / purple color is followed by a compelling bouquet of spices, roasted meats, and black and red fruits. Enormously concentrated yet with brilliant focus and delineation to its awesomely-endowed personality, this extraordinay wine should age effortlessly for three plus decades.
Note : 100 / 100
Stephen TANZER (INTERNATIONAL WINE CELLAR / USA) Fév / Mar 1999
Robe rouge-rubis saturé. Les arômes ultramûrs et profonds de cassis, de prune, de chocolat et de viande rôtie sont plus vifs mais aussi plus primaires que ceux de la cuvée normale. Le vin est immense; généreux, épais en bouche où il déploie des saveurs extraordinairement profondes de cassis et de chocolat, un peu lourde par rapport aux millésime. A une dégustation à l'aveugle, j'aurai pensé à un 1990. Ce vin plutôt monolithique et pas très nuancé actuellement, offre une puissance exceptionnelle et c'est pourtant encore un enfant... Sa finale porte des tannins (du bois ?) substantiels qui tapissent la bouche. Impressionnant mais il manque un peu de raffinement.
(LA REVUE DU VIN DE FRANCE / France) Janvier 1996
La robe est somptueuse d'un rouge très sombre presque noire. Le nez, puissant, possède des notes boisées élégantes dominantes, du laurier, du poivre, de l'olive laissant soupçonner un boisé intelligent. L'attaque en bouche est puissante et massive. Le vin propose beaucoup de matière, de très beaux tannins serrés et élégants, beaucoup de structure et d'équilibre, le tout dans la finesse.
Michel PHANEUF (LE GUIDE DU VIN 95 / Canada) 1994
Créé en 1989 par les deux jeunes frères Chapoutier, l'Ermitage "Le Pavillon" est vite devenu le nouveau vin culte de la vallée du Rhône. 4 hectares de vignes de 80 ans et des rendements de l'ordre de 15hl/ha donnent un grand vin racé et infiniment complexe qui enchante par sa race, sa texture veloutée et sa dimension aromatique en bouche. La trame est dense, serrée, et l'ensemble a une classe hors du commun. Un peu sévère pour le moment, ce vin doit impérativement mûrir quelques années en bouteille.
Fifty best wines of the year (WINE & SPIRITS / USA) Winter 1994
Elected best Hermitage, the wine rivets your attention, with that sexy, juicy quality of the best Syrah. It is finely wrought, powerful and intense. It's an investment, as some of these legendary small production Hermitage and Côte Rôtie wines have become. But the brilliance is there. The wine delivers.
(L'ECHO DES SOMMELIERS / France) Mai / Juin 1994
Couleur rouge pourpre, nez cuir, tabac, fruits rouges, kirché, vanille, cannelle, poivre et romarin. Nez voluptueux et oriental. Attaque majestueuse et puissante en bouche, du gras, tannins onctueux. Bel équilibre, beaucoup de panache, une amertume sublime, finale porto ! Très longue. C'est un très grand vin !
Clive COATES (Clive COATES MW / England) January 1994
Brillant colour. A simply triumphant nose. This is a real monster. Very very concentrated and tannic. Huge in size. Not yet brutal. The follow though is immensely profound. Marvellously concentrated and intense. Breathtaking in its potential. Grand vin !
Robert PARKER
Note : 100 / 100
Robert PARKER
Note : 100 / 100
