Le Méal 2004
Rhône Valley - Ermitage
 
                            Ratings
Tasting notes
                                                    
                                                        
                                                            Appearance:
                                                        
                                                    
                                                    
                                                        deep garnet red with purple lights during its youth.
                                                    
                                                
                                            
                                                    
                                                        
                                                            Nose:
                                                        
                                                    
                                                    
                                                        ripe fruits and smoky aromas.
                                                    
                                                
                                            
                                                    
                                                        
                                                            Palate:
                                                        
                                                    
                                                    
                                                        powerful tannins, velvety, blackberry jam. According to the vintage, the wine can be kept from 30 to 60 years, indeed from 50 to 75 years.
                                                    
                                                
                                            
                                                Sommelier's advice: Beef, game All cheeses
                                            
                                                                                    
                                        
                                                            
                                                                
                                                                    Grape variety/varieties:
                                                                
                                                            
                                                            
                                                                100% Syrah.
                                                            
                                                        
                                                    
                                                            
                                                                
                                                                    Harvest:
                                                                
                                                            
                                                            
                                                                Hand harvesting at maturity.
                                                            
                                                        
                                                    
                                                            
                                                                
                                                                    Soil:
                                                                
                                                            
                                                            
                                                                The wine is only produced with grapes coming from the Méal hillside. This slope is composed of high terraces of shingles and clay. The vines are about 50 years old.
                                                            
                                                        
                                                    
                                                            
                                                                
                                                                    Vinification:
                                                                
                                                            
                                                            
                                                                The harvest, totally destemmed, is vinified in a small cement vat. High temperature maceration enables a good extraction of grape potential, to obtain soft and stable tannins, compulsory to keep the wine for a very long time. Only the free-run juice is used in this single vineyard.
                                                            
                                                        
                                                    
                                                            
                                                                
                                                                    Ageing:
                                                                
                                                            
                                                            
                                                                Wine is matured in new or one year old cask. Maturing lasts between 14 and 18 months. The clarification is natural.
                                                            
                                                        
                                                    
                                                            
                                                                
                                                                    Alcohol content:
                                                                
                                                            
                                                            
                                                                14.5
                                                            
                                                        
                                                     
                         
                         
                         
                     
                         
                 
                 
                 
                