M Chapoutier Ermitage Le Meal Blanc 2000/2001/2002 (3x1.5L)

2000: "The sensational 2000 Ermitage le Meal Blanc knocks it out of the park with its buttered peach, wood smoke, orange liqueur, honey and hazelnut-driven bouquet. A wine that should make any Hermitage Blanc lover's knees weak, this full-bodied, voluptuous and concentrated effort has fabulous purity and a blockbuster finish." - Wine Advocate 98pts

2001: "Both dried and fresh apricots, to accompany the heather honey and macadamia nut. Full-bodied, ample and silky on the palate. Voluminous, generous and full of concentrated flavour with exceptional length. The oak influence is strong, lending plenty of barley sugar, tobacco and a touch of cedar, but it's all well-integrated now." - Decanter 97pts

2002: "Perhaps the most surprising thing is how spectacular the 2002 whites are from Michel Chapoutier. Because of space limitations, I am only listing the numerical score for this wine, which is evolved, but exceptional for such a challenging vintage. As I have said so many times over the last 15 years, the top Chapoutier wines are meant for very long term drinking, and are not designed for immediate gratification. Everything Chapoutier is doing, from his bio-dynamically farmed vineyard to tiny yields, extended fermentations, indigenous yeasts, and no fining or filtration, is done to produce the essence of a vineyard and a vintage." - Robert Parker 94pts