M. Chapoutier - Hermitage Monier de la Sizeranne 2019

Bettane & Desseauve

About wine:

Attractive black fruit notes (blackberry and blueberry), slightly jammy. On the palate, a round attack and fairly powerful balance, with a fresh finish. Still too young. A great success for this vintage.

About the estate:

Michel Chapoutier is now ably assisted by his children Mathilde and Maxime in running the largest wine house in the northern Rhône, a long-standing specialist in Hermitage and Crozes-Hermitage wines. Chapoutier is not only a major wine merchant, but also produces high-quality estate wines, with the estate's vines having been cultivated biodynamically for many years. The single-vineyard selections, the top of the range, perfectly reflect the philosophy of the master of the house: single-vineyard, single-varietal and produced every year, they are above all a reflection of the terroir, in its good aspects and sometimes its excesses.

Decanter

About wine:

The nose is intense and the palate is equally so, with a hint of reduced plum juice adding to the blackberry, and even a touch of blackcurrant. Very saturated color, impressive length. Great intensity, strong acidity, and fairly intense tannins make this a very powerful wine that will age well. The alcohol, although quite high, is not unbalanced. This wine provides a lot of hedonistic pleasure when tasted now, but it will really prove its worth (and deserve its rating) when it reaches maturity. You can enjoy it now, but I recommend waiting until 2029.

Guide Hachette des vins

About the estate:

This venerable (19th century) and unmissable winery, launched onto the international stage by Michel Chapoutier in the 1990s, offers a wide range of wines from its own vineyards (345 hectares, biodynamic) or purchased grapes, in most of the leading appellations of the Rhône Valley, as well as in Roussillon and Alsace. His children, Mathilde and Maxime, have recently joined the family adventure.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the estate:

Under the Maison M. Chapoutier label, we bring together wines from the trading activities of this two-hundred-year-old institution in Tain-l'Hermitage. Michel Chapoutier, now accompanied by his daughter Mathilde, offers a very wide range of Rhône appellations, with a production volume approaching one million bottles. But the Chapoutier name is also present in other regions (Champagne, Alsace, Languedoc and even Australia), reflecting the dynamism of this family. While some vintages are impressive, others are much more ordinary. This inconsistency has led us to withdraw the star from the house this year.

Jancis Robinson

James Suckling

About wine:

Both rich and full-bodied, yet deeply and firmly structured, this Hermitage offers numerous aromas of smoke, leather, and animals. With a little aeration, a balsamic note appears. The finish is dense and inky, but in a very positive way. Excellent balance and vitality suggest long aging potential. Made from biodynamically grown, Demeter-certified grapes. Drink now, but preferably from 2025 onwards.

Jeb Dunnuck

About wine:

I was captivated by the Hermitage Monier De La Sizeranne 2019, and if there is a better buy for Hermitage 2019, this may be it. Blackberries, black raspberries, spice box, new leather, and bouquet garni all dominate the bouquet, and it is full-bodied, with a round and structured palate, beautiful tannins, and a rare blend of richness and elegance. This is a stunning wine that is sure to bring a smile to your face for the next two decades. Hats off to the Chapoutier team!