Chapoutier Ermitage Rouge L'Ermite (2024 Release) 2003

100 points Jeb Dunnuck (Wine Advocate): "More youthful and backwards, the 2003 Ermitage L’Ermite has additional minerality, as well as the focus and purity that’s always imparted by this tiny lieu-dit. Inky purple in color, it offers up spectacular creme de cassis, blackberry, charred meats, graphite and toast as well as a full-bodied, massively concentrated profile on the palate. It’s a prodigious, insanely good wine that should be given another 2-3 years in the cellar, and enjoyed over the following two to three decades. Drink: 2016-2046. (4/29/14)"

100 points Robert Parker: "In terms of pure perfection and singularity, the black/purple-colored 2003 Ermitage l’Ermite is hauntingly perfect. A gorgeous perfume of flowers, black and blue fruits intermixed with a liqueur of rocks soars from the glass of this extraordinary wine. Full-bodied and multilayered, with magnificent concentration, and a stunning freshness and precision that are hard to believe given the frightfully low acidity, this is an extraordinary expression of terroir and vintage character that must be tasted to be believed. While it will be less approachable in its youth than some of its siblings, it will last for 40-50 years. Drink: 2006-2056. (2/22/06)"

100 points (20/20) La Revue du Vin de France (Jan 2006).

100 points Jeff Leve (The Wine Cellar Insider): "Black raspberry puree, wet forest floor, stone, floral notes and fresh herbs permeate the aromatics. Intense minerality, sweet, ripe black cherries, lush, dense, powerful and tannic. Tthe fruit shows a beautiful sense of purity. The tannins are ripe. You’ll find waves of each as the wine fills your palate. Thick, rich, amazingly concentrated and intense. The wine builds and expands with each taste. (Oct 2013)"

99 points/'Collectible,' Wine Spectator: "This really shows the vintage's character, with a wall of cocoa, tar and bacony toast covering the exotically ripe plum, blackberry and boysenberry fruit. Dense and muscular, with the power dial turned up to 11, but pulls it off thanks to exquisite balance and cut on the finish. Drink now through 2030. 300 cases made. (5/15/06)"

*****John Livingstone-Learmonth (The Cradle of The Rhône): "(cask) very dark; rich bouquet, oily and full, black fruits. Notably rich, persistent palate. No rough edges at all, chocolate style flavours, well sustained, has real follow-through and is very pretty. Touch of end tannin. 2007 on. 2022-24."