Marc d'Ermitage 1999

After a bleak start to the year owing to frosts in spring, the 1998 vintage was saved by an exceptionally long and warm summer in the Rhône Valley. This Ermitage, as is often the case, is characterised by its perfect balance between strength and elegance. This Eau-de-vie is made from the distillation of our Ermitage marcs (100% Syrah) from the 1998 vintage in our traditional alembic column still which is made entirely from copper. It was then aged in 228-litre French oak barrels for 20 years. This ageing process has given it its copper coloured hue with caramel tints. The nose opens up with delicate roasted and smoky notes which evolve towards aromas of candied fruit, cane sugar and toffee. The remarkably complex nose is underpinned by notes of dried herbs, musk and precious woods. The palate is rich and powerful with a smooth, round texture and dominated by roasted, almost peaty, notes combined with candied fruit and nutmeg. The intense finish discloses notes of black tea and ripe fig. The progressive evaporation of alcohol over the years (known as the ‘angels’ share’) has brought the natural alcohol by volume down to 42 degrees.