The 2015 Ermitage le Meal is another blockbuster that shows the richness and sweetness of fruit that is the hallmark of this awesome vintage. Jammy black raspberries, kirsch liqueur, toasted bread, licorice and violet notes all emerge from this full-bodied, unctuous, sexy, and yet incredibly fine and elegant beauty that never puts a foot wrong. Vinified in concrete and aged in a mix of small barrels and demi-muids (25% new), it’s going to need 4-5 years of cellaring yet keep for 3-4 decades.

When in the course of a tasting session one is confronted by a wine that stands above the others, I find it impossible to give more than a single perfect score. So the 2015 Ermitage le Meal gets a "consolation prize" 99+ rating. Full-bodied and intense, loaded with blackberry fruit that pushes the limits of ripeness and richness, this incredible wine retains such fine details as hints of crushed stone, cinnamon, clove and nutmeg. Unless it shuts down, it should be drinkable by 2025 and give pleasure for many years to come.

This sports a rich, juicy core of dark plum, blackberry and black currant compote flavors, studded liberally with licorice root, warm ganache and tobacco notes. Richly layered on the finish, with a piercing iron accent at the very end pulling all the elements together. This has depth to burn in the cellar. Best from 2020 through 2040. 236 cases made, 13 cases imported.??–JM??Region: France / Northern Rh?ne / Ermitage Select to Add

Cask sample. Tasted blind. Dark blackish ruby. Firm, succulent fruit on the nose. Very polished tannins. Just the right side of overworked. Lots of well-managed tannin. Bone-dry finish. Very sincere; within the Hermitage idiom. But a very long-term wine.