2007 Ermitage Le Meal
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Very much in the forward, charming, sexy style of the vintage, the 2007 Ermitage Le Méal is full-bodied and nicely concentrated, with a complex perfume of sweet red and black fruits as well as some meaty, spice, bloody, floral nuances on the nose. While the 2007s in the North certainly take a back seat to the wines from the Southern Rhône, these are nevertheless satisfying, layered, expressive wines that have drunk well since release.
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While not the blockbuster year in the Southern Rhone, the Northern Rhone's 2007 vintage still produced a bevy of ripe, sexy and forward wines that have drunk well since release. Chapoutier's 2007 Ermitage le Meal offers a full-bodied, charming, character-filled personality to go with notes of black raspberries, creme de cassis, incense and hints of beef blood on the nose. Sweetly fruited, with gorgeous purity and no hard edges, it's drinking beautifully today, but should continue to evolve nicely for another 10-15 years.
Dark ruby. Pungent aromas of dark berries, licorice, cured meat and smoky minerals, along with brooding notes of tobacco, olive and espresso. Extremely young and ungiving today, opening very slowly to offer weighty dark fruit compote flavors and a musky licorice root note. The most unyielding of this set, with strong finishing grip and lingering smokiness. This doesn't just need time, it demands it.
Ruby-red. Classic syrah scents of cherry, blackcurrant, smoked meat, licorice and cracked pepper. Deep, gently chewy dark berry flavors are firmed by tangy minerals and pick up tobacco and olive notes on the back end. A tad introverted right now: it will be interesting to see this after the bottling.