M. Chapoutier Le Meal Ermitage Rouge 2021

Description

M. Chapoutier Le Meal Ermitage Rouge 2021 is part of Chapoutier’s Fac et Spera Sélection Parcellaire range of wines, a range of specially selected parcels of single vineyard wines which Chapoutier describe as a “precise ‘photographic’ image of a terroir”, a snapshot of a grape, in a certain year, in a given terroir. Fac & Spera means “Do & Hope”.

Maison Chapoutier has grown into one of the largest and most recognisable producers of Rhone wines. The company dates back to 1808 when Michel Chapoutier’s distant ancestor Polydor Chapoutier bought a parcel of vines in the Rhone Valley. Today the Chapoutier has vineyards throughout the Rhone from Côte Rôtie in the north to Luberon in the south as well as having overseas projects like Domaine Tournon in Victoria, Australia. Michel is committed to making the best wines whilst respecting the environment.

Biodynamics

Chapoutier now owns the largest biodynamic vineyard in Europe. It is his personal conviction that “the complexity in a wine comes from the level of microbiological activity around the vine roots”. Soils on the Chapoutier estate never see pesticides or herbicides, floral growth amongst the vines is essential, and the natural cycles of the earth, sun and moon are also considered.

Le Meal Vineyard

M. Chapoutier Le Meal Ermitage Rouge is 100% Syrah grapes sourced from Le Méal hillside. From a hillside plot located at 150-200 metres altitude, planted on shingle and clay terraces where the average age of vines is over 50 years. This 2.2 hectare vineyard produces perfumed wines with great ageing potential.

M. Chapoutier Le Meal Ermitage Rouge Vinification

The grapes for M. Chapoutier Le Meal Ermitage Rouge 2021 were hand-harvested at peak maturity. The grapes are destemmed and vinified in small cement vats. A relatively high maceration temperature enables good extraction, soft and stable tannins. Only the free-run juice is used in this single vineyard. The wine is matured in new or second-fill oak casks. The wine is matured for between 14 and 18 months. The clarification is natural.