M. Chapoutier "Chante-Alouette" Hermitage Blanc 2021
(Northern Rhone, France) - [JS 94] [WS 93] [JD 92+] [DM 92] [WA 92] [VM 91-93]

About the Winery:
The name Chapoutier occupies a storied place in the history of the Rhône Valley, beginning 1808, when the family first settled in the Rhône Valley. Throughout the 19^th century and well into the next, M. CHAPOUTIER and its eponymous winery grew steadily, producing wine from esteemed vineyard sites such as Hermitage, Côte-Rôtie and Châteauneuf-du-Pape. However, 1990 was a watershed moment for the winery, with the arrival of Michel Chapoutier. Under his leadership, the maverick winemaker established bold initiatives. For example, the introduction of Single Vineyard Selection that express the unique terroir of a site, or wine labels embossed in braille for the visually impaired. In each instance, Michel’s decisions were, and continue to be, driven by a deep respect for the soil, climate, and his fellow human beings.

About this Wine:
The grapes producing this wine come from three different vineyards:

• “Le Méal”: characterized by a soil of very old fluvio-glacial alluvial deposits with a high pebble content.
• “Les Murets”: whose soil is clay-gravel. Its red clays give the wines a full, rich character.
• “Chante-Alouette”: a high-lying terroir whose soil is a mixture of loess and very finely decomposed granite. It gives the wine freshness, salinity and acidity.

The musts are obtained after a long pressing and are lightly settled before fermentation. Part of the fermentation is carried out in stainless steel tanks and part in demi-muids. The lees are stirred up (bâtonnage) for the first 2-3 months adding texture to the wine.

40-30% takes place in stainless steel vats. The remaining 60-70% is aged in demimuids (600 litres) barrels, 10% of which are made of new wood and 90% of wood previously used for one to three wines.

100% Marsanne

13.5% ABBV

Tasting Notes:
Color: brilliant and green gold.
Nose: complex and subtle, aromas of quince, walnut, honey, ginger, acacia with a hint of linden-tree.
Palate: frank attack, without aggressiveness, final of almond, very elegant Wand good length.

Ratings & Reviews

94 Points - James Suckling:
"At first this is a bit closed, but with some aeration in the glass the ripe peach and Mirabelle plums from the beautifully ripe marsanne emerge. Excellent concentration and a wonderful vitality in spite of the moderate acidity. Then comes the saline minerality, which is married to a touch of bitter almonds in the long, structured finish. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drinkable now, but best from 2025." (Apr 2024)

93 Points - Wine Spectator: 
"Complex and aromatic, with apricot liqueur and peach merging with honeyed chamomile and warm hay. Bitter almond skin and dried green herbs balance the richness of the fruit well, and subtle notes of earthy evolution glide out on the long, balanced finish. Drink now through 2030. 50 cases imported." – Kristen Bieler (Mar 2025)

92+ Points - Jeb Dunnuck:
"Just bottled three weeks before this tasting, the 2021 Hermitage Chante-Alouette Blanc is all Marsanne that was brought up in 65% demi-muids and the balance in stainless steel. It's not going to match the 2020, but don't let that stop you, it has textbook Hermitage character and is medium-bodied, balanced, has integrated acidity, and a great finish. It's still tight and slightly reserved (no doubt due to its recent bottling) but offers impressive stone fruit, quince, and honeyed minerality, the purity and freshness of the vintage, and a great finish. It should benefit from 2-4 years in the cellar and drink brilliantly over the following 10-15 years." (Dec 2022)

92 Points - Decanter Magazine:
"Less richly and ripely fruited on the nose than a typical year, this has starfruit and yellow plum nuances, and a subtle flinty note in the background. The acidity is surprisingly low for a 2021 white Hermitage, but it's not unbalanced, with subtle, noble, bitter notes compensating. The oak work sits in the background and is unobtrusive. Broad but tense finish, this is a silky and compact iteration of this cuvée. Not terribly grand or mighty, but already approachable." – Matt Walls (Nov 2023)

92 Points - Wine Advocate:
"From a vintage that has proved very successful for the region's white wines, Chapoutier's 2021 Hermitage Chante-Alouette features aromas of beeswax, almond skin, melon and tangerine. It's medium-bodied, round, concentrated, nicely balanced and harmonious, with a long, citrusy finish." – Joe Czerwinski (May 2024)

91-93 Points - Vinous Media:
"The medium-bodied 2021 Hermitage Blanc Chante-Alouette is a sapid white with good potential. Ripe peach, lemon peel, yellow apple, pear, spring blossom, flintstone and cedary shadings introduce it. Lean and refreshing, it packs a savory punch. At this early stage, I have a slight preference for the 2022." – Nicolas Greinacher (Mar 2024)