"In the same ballpark as the Pavillon, pure crème de cassis, violets, graphite, crushed stone, and floral notes all emerge from the 2022 Ermitage L'Ermite, which was 85% destemmed and raised in 20% new oak. Full-bodied, deep, and powerful on the palate, it shows incredible concentration and structure, with loads of ripe tannins and a mineral-laced finish. It needs time but will have decades of longevity. Drink 2033-2060."

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"This is Northern Rhone fundamentalism of the best kind. Drinking this is like staring down a shaft that extends to the center of the earth. So dark yet floral, with lovely violet character. In spite of the extraordinary intensity and power, there’s vibrancy that takes your breath away. Totally crystalline finish in spite of the high ripeness of the vintage. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink or hold."

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"Like much wine from Chapoutier this year, the 2022 Ermitage l'Ermite is brooding, slowly unfurling with notes of licorice, violet, bacon and smoke mingled with carnal/animal-like notes. Medium to full-bodied, rich and dense, it's concentrated with a structured, grippy tannic frame complemented with a muscular mid-palate and a firm, licorice and carnal-inflected finish. Despite being somewhat dry and rustic, the telluric power of the terroir allows this wine to remain approachable and distinctive, giving it a balance and control that might elude other wines under similar conditions."

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"Descend into this labyrinth of spices and you may never return. The black fruit and the most perfect violets will take you prisoner and never release you. Absolutely astounding tannin structure, not from the quantity, but from the finesse and the beauty. Then the explosive finish that pulls you up in the direction of syrah nirvana. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink or hold."

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"While all the Hermitage releases here are beautiful wines, if I had to pick one. it would be the 2021 Ermitage L'Ermite, which comes from a later, cooler terroir of decomposed granite (and even a touch of limestone). As with the other releases here, it was destemmed, and this cuvée will see 18 months in 25% new French oak. Violets, crushed stone, liquid smoke, leather, and assorted darker, almost blue fruits emerge on the nose, and it's medium to full-bodied and has a laser-like focus on the palate, with fine yet building tannins. There's a certain old school-like vibrancy and structure here, and it's going to warrant 3-5 years of bottle before showing some accessibility. The alcohol levels for all three of the single vineyard Hermitage are between 13.5% and 13.8%. I would expect all of these to have 20-25 years of prime drinking."

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"Compelling scents of roasted meat, espresso and blueberries roar from the glass, joined by a hint of vanilla on the nose of the 2020 Ermitage l'Ermite. A huge behemoth of a wine in the mouth, it's nevertheless an elegant beast that should easily be tamed by a few years in the cellar. Fans of all-out power might prefer this to the Le Pavillon in 2020, but for me, it's a just a neck behind, nipped at the wire."

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"If you ever wondered why Hermitage had such a special reputation then you need to taste this towering masterpiece of this appellation. Spectacular mountain freshness as well as enormous concentration and underplayed tannic power. The spicy complexity of this wine needs some time to unfold, but that is the best invested time I can imagine. Fabulous mineral freshness at the finish that you don’t ever want to let go of. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification. Drinkable now, but best from 2026."

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"The 2020 Ermitage l'Ermite is a letdown only in the context of the incomparably magnificent 2019 version. The pure cassis fruit comes across as almost a bit one-dimensional, but that one fruit dimension is so broad and deep as to make any objections mere quibbles. Full-bodied and tannic, marked by a granite-rooted sense of austerity, the wine finishes silky, long and vibrant—another tour de force from one of Hermitage's most privileged sites."

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"Incredibly dense elderberry fruit with raw-meat, smoked-bacon, balsamic-vinegar, mushroom and tar aromas. But there are plenty of other nuances in this astonishing Hermitage! Gigantic fine tannins support the wide-screen palate that’s packed to the brim with richness, yet remains so bright and clean. Stunning stony minerality at the almost endless finish. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification. Drinkable now, but best from 2027."

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"Marked by sensationally deep notes of crushed stone, cassis and blueberry, the 2019 Ermitage l'Ermite is a tremendous effort and a worthy rival to the wines produced in the past four vintages. Full-bodied, it's rich and restrained, expansive yet structured—just a complete wine from mouthwatering aromas to velvety mouthfeel and long, stony finish. While delicious now, I'd expect it to close up shortly, yet still be going strong two decades from now. Wow!"

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"This delivers power, but in a refined and precise manner, with a stream of cassis, bitter cherry and raspberry coulis dotted with hints of dried flowers, singed alder and sweet savory notes. A long minerally spine ripples underneath, adding tension and cut and pulling everything together into a pinpoint finish. Best from 2026 through 2042. 13 cases imported."

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