Chapoutier Ermitage De L'Oree Blanc 2002

93 Robert Parker - Wine Advocate
Perhaps the most surprising thing is how spectacular the '02 whites are from Michel Chapoutier. As I have said so many times over the last 15 years, the top Chapoutier wines are meant for very long term drinking, &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. His track record since '89 and '90 admirably proves that these are indeed remarkable wines made by a young genius who refuses to compromise. Michel Chapoutier has been misunderstood by some of his peers, and there is a lot of jealousy when someone this young is so incredibly talented, but it is an irrefutable fact that these are wines of singular greatness as well as longevity. Drink '04 - '54.