Ermitage Le Meal Rouge by M. Chapoutier

Structure

Bodyfull

Tanninfirm

Acidityhigh

Sweetnessdry

Oaknew oak

Drinking window

Best 10 to 30 years from vintage.

vintage10 yrs30 yrs32 yrs

Critic scores

No critic score is published for this bottle that we can cite with a reviewer, a vintage and a review year, so none is shown. The rating in the header is our own.

In the glass

Full-bodiedFirm tanninHigh acidityDryVery Long, Velvety With Dark Spice finish

Aroma: blackberry, chocolate, smoked meat, graphite, exotic spice

Palate: rich dark fruit, melted chocolate, velvety tannins, long spiced finish, mineral depth

Le Meal is the most hedonistic and velvety of Chapoutier's Hermitage single-parcel reds, from mid-slope schist and granite. More immediately accessible than Le Pavillon or L'Ermite.

What it pairs with

Beef tenderloin with black truffle sauce
The wine's velvety texture and chocolate notes meet truffle-enriched beef naturally.
Roasted pigeon with foie gras
Luxurious poultry and the wine's exotic spice register create a special occasion pairing.
Dark chocolate fondant
The wine's cocoa and spice character bridges into rich dark chocolate dessert.

How to serve Ermitage Le Meal Rouge

Allow 95 minutes from open to pour.

Open and decant. Open 90 minutes before serving and pour into a decanter to aerate.
Serve at 16-18°C. Cellar temperature (16-18°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
Glassware. Use a large Bordeaux-style glass: the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
Pair with. Beef tenderloin with black truffle sauce, Roasted pigeon with foie gras, Dark chocolate fondant. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.

History

Le Meal comes from mid-slope parcels on the Hermitage hill above Tain-l'Hermitage. It is considered the most accessible of the three single-parcel reds in its youth while gaining great complexity with age.

1990: First vintage of Le Meal as part of Chapoutier's Selections Parcellaires program

Facts

Producer: M. Chapoutier · visiting guide
Grapes: Syrah (100%)
Classification: Hermitage AOC
Oak: 18 months in new French oak demi-muids
ABV: 14.0%
Price: EUR 200-350 at retail
Drinking window: 10-30 from vintage
First vintage: 1990
Biodynamic: Demeter Certified
Organic: ECOCERT

Frequently asked about Ermitage Le Meal Rouge

What does Ermitage Le Meal Rouge taste like?

On the nose, blackberry, chocolate, smoked meat, graphite, exotic spice. On the palate, rich dark fruit, melted chocolate, velvety tannins, long spiced finish, mineral depth. Structurally full-bodied, firm tannins, high acidity with a very long, velvety with dark spice finish. Le Meal is the most hedonistic and velvety of Chapoutier's Hermitage single-parcel reds, from mid-slope schist and granite. More immediately accessible than Le Pavillon or L'Ermite.

When should I drink Ermitage Le Meal Rouge?

Drink 10-30 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.

What food pairs with Ermitage Le Meal Rouge?

Beef tenderloin with black truffle sauce is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Roasted pigeon with foie gras and Dark chocolate fondant. The wine's velvety texture and chocolate notes meet truffle-enriched beef naturally.

What grapes are in Ermitage Le Meal Rouge?

The blend is Syrah (100%). The wine is classified as Hermitage AOC.

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