Chapoutier - Ermitage White de l'Orée 1992 (1.5L)

"This wine reveals the viscosity of a rich Sauternes, although it is completely dry. This full-bodied, heavyweight, massively endowed monument to the Marsanne grape must be tasted to be believed. It is so thick and juicy that some tasters may be shocked by its intensity to the point of wondering what exactly is in the glass. Wines like this are rare, but I have no doubt that this wine will last and evolve for 30 + years. A classic!"-Robert Parker, 1997

No name is more closely associated with the greatness of the Rhone valley than Chapoutier.

The history of the Chapoutier family stretches back to the early nineteenth century when current owner Michel Chapoutier's great-, great-, great-grandfather Marius purchased an estate and some vineyards in the now famous village of Tain l'Hermitage in the Northern Rhône Valley. Marius Chapoutier made history in the region when he became the first grape grower there to vinify his own fruit. Marius had tasted wines other winemakers produced using his fruit and he realized that something was lost in translation, so to speak. He knew that he owned some of the best growing sites in the appellation and he believed — rightly — that the grapes grown in his vineyards could produce long-lived world-class wines. In a move unusual at the time, he decided that he should make the wine himself. Not only did the quality of the wines increase greatly, but this move provided the capital to expand the Chapoutiers’ already legendary estate.

A visionary and pioneer in biodynamic winemaking, his restless energy and unconditional commitment to quality have produced tremendous success, with the most 90+ point ratings of all Rhône producers and 16 "100 point" rated wines.

"This wine reveals the viscosity of a rich Sauternes, although it is completely dry. This full-bodied, heavyweight, massively endowed monument to the Marsanne grape must be tasted to be believed. It is so thick and juicy that some tasters may be shocked by its intensity to the point of wondering what exactly is in the glass. Wines like this are rare, but I have no doubt that this wine will last and evolve for 30 + years. A classic!"-Robert Parker, 1997