M. Chapoutier Hermitage Chante-Alouette Blanc 2016
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Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Pairs well with lobster, fish, foie gras, blue cheeses, and spicy dishes with curry.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
Bold, ripe and unctuous in feel, with creamed melon, pear and Jonagold apple notes wrapped in heather honey, macadamia nut, white ginger and brioche accents. Rich, stylish and lovely. Best from 2020 through 2028. Tasted twice, with consistent notes.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Moving to the Hermitage releases, the 2016 Hermitage Chante-Alouette comes from a mix of terroirs (granite, sedimentary, and loess) and was brought up 65% in used demi-muids, with the balance in stainless steel. This medium gold-colored beauty boasts terrific notes of caramelized citrus, orange blossom, and honeycomb and is a rich, full-bodied, and powerful Marsanne that's going to evolve for 15-20 years.
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James Suckling
Plenty of ripe apricot fruits and a very sweet, luscious palate that carries plenty of flavor amid a creamy texture. Some warm, spicy elements to close.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A blend of estate-owned parcels aged three-quarters in oak and one-quarter in stainless steel, the 2016 Hermitage Chante-Alouette is a rich, almost sweet-tasting example of Hermitage. It's powerful and bold, bursting with honey and tangerine aromas and flavors, then is balanced by hints of brine and citrus zest on the lengthy finish.
Other Vintages
2020-
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James
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Robert
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Robert
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Enthusiast
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James
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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.
Sothis Gin is distilled from grapes and plants grown near the vineyards. This family domaine is cultivated using biodynamic practices in which plants play a central role. In their wild state they offer M. Chapoutier a better understanding of the soils. When used in vine treatments they help to nourish plant life and support plant growth. They have selected a few of these plants in order to offer a new perspective of their terroirs, the story of a gin originating from the Tain l’Hermitage vineyards and their floral heritage. They have been honing this recipe for many months under the watchful eye of Sothis, the star and also the ancient Goddess who teaches us that cultivating the land is a means of moving closer to the stars.