2012 Ermitage L'Ermite Blanc
Estimated value
Buying options
Tasting notes
Another perfect wine from this reference point estate, the 2012 L'Ermite Blanc tastes like the essence of this terroir as well as Marsanne, and I can’t imagine this variety getting better than this. Almond paste, caramelized citrus, white peach, flowers, and liquid rock-like nuances all define the bouquet, and it hits the palate with a massive amount of fruit, yet due to the magic of this terroir, it’s incredibly precise, pure, and chiseled, with no sensation of weight or heaviness. As I’ve written in the past, I’d happily drink bottles any time over the coming 3-4 decades.
Critic scores
Jeb Dunnuck
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
Vivid yellow-gold. Explosive, exotically perfumed orchard fruit, honey, iodine and mineral aromas pick up hints of quinine and jasmine with air. Bitter pear skin and Meyer lemon flavors gain weight as the wine opens up, with juicy acidity adding lift and focus. Closes on a ripe tangerine note, with serious mineral-driven persistence and lingering floral character. The combination of power and finesse here is striking.
White wine simply doesn't get any better than the 2012 Ermitage l'Ermite Blanc. A massive, concentrated, yet insanely pure and focused effort, it has an incredible bouquet (almond paste, orange rind, caramelized peach), full-bodied richness, no hard edges and finish that just won't quit. Of all the 2012 whites, this has the most minerality, purity and precision. I'd happily drink it anytime over the coming 3-4 decades.
Light yellow-gold. High-pitched aromas of fresh citrus fruits, smoky minerals, white flowers and sweet butter. Concentrated but lithe and sharply focused, with impressive floral lift to its orange, pear skin and mineral flavors. The mineral element carries through the finish, which clings with superb energy and spicy persistence.