Mature, oxidized nose of baked apple, raisin and orange marmelade. Dull and flat. Simple, oxidized palate. Stored perfectly since release this did not survive 18 years of cellaring...
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Väldigt mörk i färgen. Lite gyllengul/brun. Har inte druckit så mycket mogen vit Hermitage. Väldigt speciellt både i doft och smak med mogna bakade äpple, torkade aprikoser, gott om mineral, rostade hasselnötter och vissa oxiderade madeiratoner. Fin längd.
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Little alcoholic on the nose but so typically Hermitage... Beautifully aged. Exceptional palate with some nice sweetness. Will be great for some more years. Wow!
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Rhone Dinner at Capella (Capella Hotel in Georgetown): This was interesting - I have never had Le Meal before. The dark yellow brown color was confusing - almost a watered down tawny color. However, it tasted far better than it looked or smelt. Light almond nut with a hint of sweet fruit.
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Drinking Rhones at Capella (The Grill Room at Capella Hotel Georgetown): Deep golden color concerns me. The initial oxidative note blew off revealing medium expressive nose of apple peal, apple tart, candied orange, dryt apricot, burnt sugar, creme brulee, almond paste and sweet spices. Dense yet airy palate which I often find in Chapoutier hermitage blancs, almond and dry fruit driven sweet palate impression, good acidity and long nutty finish. Certain very ripe impression but not oxidized. It is quite enjoyable but others liked it even more. I preferred the palate to the nose.
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Dinner at Doyle & Lesley's (Vancouver, BC): Medium yellow-gold colour. Nose offered some nice riper notes of oxidized pear with nuts and hints of honey and the slightest traces of sherry on the nose as well. In the mouth it was full bodied with more honey and almond flavours with decent acidity and a long finish. I don’t have much experience with Hermitage Blanc but this seemed to be drinking quite well. Excellent.
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A real treat. I was impressed with the length of the finish and the depth of minerality. I've had a young Le Meal before and it's all stones and acidity. It's fascinating to taste one this old and see how the acidity has receded and pretty pear and lychee fruit starting to pop through. Thanks to Mel for bringing this special bottle.
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Northern Rhone Dinner; 10/29/2011-11/1/2011 (Naperville, Illinois): Brought by Mel Hill to the Northern Rhone dinner. This was served too cold and needed to warm a little before showing its best. Perhaps some decanting would have helped as well. Drank with appetizers. Next to the 2006 Tardieu Laurent Hermitage Blanc it tasted somewhat one dimensional. Slightly oxidized. 88 points.
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Popped and poured. Served slightly lower than cellar temperature. The color was deep gold, which made me suspect some oxidation issues. On the nose, almond paste, honey, floral scents and a touch of sherry. On the palate, medium body with honey, almonds, butterscotch and a hint of oxidation like flavors. 15 second finish. No rating due to the minor oxidation issues. This was drinkable, but the sherry notes were there, and it was off putting because of them. This was bought at auction so the provenance is suspect and I don't know if it's a representative bottle. Much more evolved than a 98 L'Oree I had earlier this year. NR.
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Rhônes and dinner with Robert Parker (Baltimore, MD): Wow, the Le Meal stood out as being more exotic and concentrated with notes of banana on the tropical nose. However, for me the 1995 l'Oree is at a better point right now.
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Very dark golden colour, suggesting a wine of considerable age. Very minerally and honeyed on the nose. A huge wine in the mouth. Broad, deep, violent, and un-controllable, yet harmonious and agreeable. A very special and different kind of white wine. Loads of abricot-like flavours and a fat, tannic flow. Long flattering finish. Boy is this wine good!!
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9/29/2021 - robvan Likes this wine: 93 Points
Great bottle,
In the end of his top drinking window.
Will stand another 3-5 years.
Almond, hazelnut, ripe pear.
Decant 1 Hour for full opening.
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9/19/2020 - grapist wrote: flawed
Oxidized. I fear for the other five in the cellar
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9/28/2018 - Aleks Che Likes this wine: 93 Points
CHE93
A bit oxidative. Pear, nuts, dry grass.
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7/24/2018 - Kriz wrote: 93 Points
Culinairy topper! Beautifully matured with hazelnut and honey.
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2/4/2017 - Argrath wrote: flawed
Mature, oxidized nose of baked apple, raisin and orange marmelade. Dull and flat.
Simple, oxidized palate.
Stored perfectly since release this did not survive 18 years of cellaring...
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6/8/2015 - AWBryce Likes this wine: 92 Points
Nice nose, earthy, smokey, orchard fruit. Palate is rich, good acidity, good length, touch of heat. Some hints of mint on the finish.
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2/18/2015 - FamilyLarsson wrote: 92 Points
Väldigt mörk i färgen. Lite gyllengul/brun.
Har inte druckit så mycket mogen vit Hermitage. Väldigt speciellt både i doft och smak med mogna bakade äpple, torkade aprikoser, gott om mineral, rostade hasselnötter och vissa oxiderade madeiratoner. Fin längd.
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11/10/2014 - Kriz Likes this wine: 94 Points
Little alcoholic on the nose but so typically Hermitage... Beautifully aged. Exceptional palate with some nice sweetness. Will be great for some more years. Wow!
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10/16/2014 - cab blends Likes this wine: 93 Points
Rhone Dinner at Capella (Capella Hotel in Georgetown): This was interesting - I have never had Le Meal before. The dark yellow brown color was confusing - almost a watered down tawny color. However, it tasted far better than it looked or smelt. Light almond nut with a hint of sweet fruit.
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10/16/2014 - dcwino wrote: 93 Points
Drinking Rhones at Capella (The Grill Room at Capella Hotel Georgetown): Deep golden color concerns me. The initial oxidative note blew off revealing medium expressive nose of apple peal, apple tart, candied orange, dryt apricot, burnt sugar, creme brulee, almond paste and sweet spices. Dense yet airy palate which I often find in Chapoutier hermitage blancs, almond and dry fruit driven sweet palate impression, good acidity and long nutty finish. Certain very ripe impression but not oxidized. It is quite enjoyable but others liked it even more. I preferred the palate to the nose.
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8/13/2012 - godx wrote: 91 Points
Dinner at Doyle & Lesley's (Vancouver, BC): Medium yellow-gold colour. Nose offered some nice riper notes of oxidized pear with nuts and hints of honey and the slightest traces of sherry on the nose as well. In the mouth it was full bodied with more honey and almond flavours with decent acidity and a long finish. I don’t have much experience with Hermitage Blanc but this seemed to be drinking quite well. Excellent.
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11/6/2011 - otisabdul wrote: 92 Points
A real treat. I was impressed with the length of the finish and the depth of minerality. I've had a young Le Meal before and it's all stones and acidity. It's fascinating to taste one this old and see how the acidity has receded and pretty pear and lychee fruit starting to pop through. Thanks to Mel for bringing this special bottle.
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10/29/2011 - Vino Me wrote: 88 Points
Northern Rhone Dinner; 10/29/2011-11/1/2011 (Naperville, Illinois): Brought by Mel Hill to the Northern Rhone dinner. This was served too cold and needed to warm a little before showing its best. Perhaps some decanting would have helped as well. Drank with appetizers. Next to the 2006 Tardieu Laurent Hermitage Blanc it tasted somewhat one dimensional. Slightly oxidized. 88 points.
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7/15/2011 - dmm333 wrote: flawed
Wine was oxidized and undrinkable.
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6/18/2011 - Tavastgatan wrote: 94 Points
Much better than the last bottle. Massive wine.
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3/18/2011 - huntinpagan wrote:
Popped and poured. Served slightly lower than cellar temperature. The color was deep gold, which made me suspect some oxidation issues. On the nose, almond paste, honey, floral scents and a touch of sherry. On the palate, medium body with honey, almonds, butterscotch and a hint of oxidation like flavors. 15 second finish. No rating due to the minor oxidation issues. This was drinkable, but the sherry notes were there, and it was off putting because of them. This was bought at auction so the provenance is suspect and I don't know if it's a representative bottle. Much more evolved than a 98 L'Oree I had earlier this year. NR.
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12/22/2009 - Tavastgatan wrote: 92 Points
Not the best bottle - probably a bit oxidized. Sill good.
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2/12/2005 - Eric wrote: 97 Points
Rhônes and dinner with Robert Parker (Baltimore, MD): Wow, the Le Meal stood out as being more exotic and concentrated with notes of banana on the tropical nose. However, for me the 1995 l'Oree is at a better point right now.
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11/16/2004 - Joe Belmaati wrote:
1998 Chapoutier Ermitage Le Méal, Hermitage, Rhône, France
Alarmingly dark yellow color. Sure enough, an oxidized bottle.
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3/13/2002 - Joe Belmaati wrote: 94 Points
Very dark golden colour, suggesting a wine of considerable age. Very minerally and honeyed on the nose. A huge wine in the mouth. Broad, deep, violent, and un-controllable, yet harmonious and agreeable. A very special and different kind of white wine. Loads of abricot-like flavours and a fat, tannic flow. Long flattering finish. Boy is this wine good!!
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