"A super-stony wine that is demanding, but will reward every second of attention that you give it. Very fine Mirabelle plum and golden pear aromas. Still very tightly wound on the super-focused, medium- to full-bodied palate. The texture is the other totally amazing thing about this exceptionally beautiful expression of the marsanne grape. Super-long finish. Drink or hold"

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"The 2021 Ermitage l'Ermite Blanc was tasted one month prior to bottling, hence the parenthetical rating. Scents of crushed stone accent notes of apricot, pineapple and lime on the nose, while the palate is medium to full-bodied. In the mouth, this is straight, almost severe; it tells you when to jump and how high, with zesty, briny notes lingering long on the finish"

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"The nose is like an essence of Mirabelle plums that pulls you into its tight inner orbit like a huge yellow star. This starts so quietly, but expands and expands as it flows over your palate in a way that’s not quite like any other white Rhone I can remember. How can a wine with such gigantic concentration have such perfect balance? The most amazing thing is the way the toasty richness interacts with the primal stony side of the wine: two faces of the same coin. Limited production. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink or hold."

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"Not yet bottled (this cuvée always sees a slightly longer élevage), the 2021 Ermitage L'Ermite Blanc comes from a mix of limestone and granite soils and is still resting in 25% new demi-muids. If there's a white of the vintage, this might be it. Honeyed lemons, quince, mango, and a liqueur of rocks-like minerality all define the aromatics, and it's medium to full-bodied, deep, concentrated, and pure, with an undeniable salinity on the finish. As usual, this tight, focused, and backward Hermitage needs at least 3-4 years of bottle age."

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"The 2020 Ermitage l'Ermite Blanc boasts subtle aromas of crushed stone and toasted grain, while the fruit is more citrus than pear or melon, with a hint of white peach. It's full-bodied but without the massive concentration of either the 2018 or 2019 vintages. Balanced, elegant, long and harmonious, it's again my pick of the whites, but it’s not quite as mind-blowing as the 2019."

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"Since I reviewed the 2019 Ermitage l'Ermite Blanc last year (98+), I had some doubts about spending the time to re-review it. But one taste had me transfixed. Hints of crushed stone and subtle oak appear on the nose, backed by waves of honeyed pear and pineapple, plus enough invigorating citrus to provide a sense of freshness. Full-bodied and rich without being heavy, this has come into its own, being incredibly long, balanced and ethereal on the finish. Amazing stuff!"

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