An Evening with M. Chapoutier – Rhône Icons & a “Perfect” 100-Point Wine
One of the world’s great producers, from everyday brilliance to absolute legends. Thirteen wines spanning the Rhône Valley – from Condrieu and Châteauneuf-du-Pape to Hermitage – culminating in the monumental Le Pavillon 2009 (100 points, Robert Parker), described simply as “a perfect wine.”
With 9 rare museum wines direct from the domaine’s cellars, from Condrieu and Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc to the benchmark, Hermitage Blanc…
before moving into the reds of Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Hermitage …
“Michel Chapoutier produces some of the world’s greatest wines from single parcels of old vines
spread throughout the northern and southern Rhone…”
Robert M. Parker Jr.
…he has a global perspective that's probablyunmatched in the Rhône.
Joe Czerwinski
“This estate goes from strength to strength in just about every appellation in the Rhône Valley…”
Jeb Dunnuck
9 Chapoutier wines were awarded a perfect 100 pointsscore by Robert Parker in 2015…
An extraordinary record - & achievement.
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
Thursday, May 14th
13 Museum & Current Release Wines
Hosted by
Damien Agnel - Chapoutier’s National Sales Manager
Dinner: 6.30pm – 9pm, 13 Wines & 4 Courses, $625
(Private dining room event | Limited to 14 guests)
Including 9 of Chapoutier’s finest:
M. Chapoutier Ermitage Blanc “De l’Orée” 2018
98 Points James Suckling
98 Points Jeb Dunnuck
18 Points Jancis Robinson
96-98 Points, Joe Czerwinski, The Wine Advocate (December 2019)
2006 M. Chapoutier Châteauneuf-du-Pape “Croix de Bois”
94 Points, James Molesworth, Wine Spectator
2011M. Chapoutier Châteauneuf-du-Pape “Croix de Bois”
93 Points, Josh Raynolds, Vinous
2011 M. Chapoutier Châteauneuf-du-Pape “Barbe Rac”
16.5/20, Jancis Robinson, JancisRobinson.com
93 Points, Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com
16.5/20, Jancis Robinson, JancisRobinson.com
2012 M. Chapoutier Châteauneuf-du-Pape “Barbe Rac”
18.5/20, Jancis Robinson, JancisRobinson.com
96 Points, James Molesworth, Wine Spectator
95 Points, Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com
2009 M. Chapoutier Ermitage ‘Le Pavillon’
“A perfect wine…” - 100 Points, Robert M Parker Jr.
2021 M. Chapoutier Ermitage Rouge “Le Pavillon”
99 Points Stuart Piggot Jamessuckling.com (May 2024)
95-97 Points Joe Czerwinski, The Wine Advocate (May 2024)
96 Points Matt Walls, Decanter (September 2022)
94-96 Points Jeb Dunnuck (December 2022)
…with great expression and appeal already. Dangerously drinkable!
18 Points Jancis Robinson (October 2022)
2018 M. Chapoutier Ermitage Rouge “Le Pavillon”
98 Points Jeb Dunnuck (November 2020)
96-98 Points Joe Czerwinski, The Wine Advocate (December 2029)
96-98 Points Josh Raynolds, Vinous (May 2020)
96 Points James Molesworth Wine Spectator (April 2021)
18 Points Richard Hemming MW, jancisrobinson.com (June 2019)
2009 M. Chapoutier Ermitage Rouge “Le Pavillon”
100 Points, Robert M. Parker, Jr., The Wine Advocate (December 2011)
97 Points, Wine Spectator
2001 M. Chapoutier Ermitage Rouge “Le Pavillon”
97 Points, MW, Decanter
95 Points, Vinous Media
93-95 Points, Robert M. Parker, Jr., The Wine Advocate (June 2003)
The Wine List & Menu
First Course
La Bernardine Blanc 2019, Our Price $70
…It is a wine made from the grape varieties Clairette Blanc, Grenache Blanc / Garnatxa Blanca, Bourboulenc from the region Châteauneuf-du-Pape in France.
Pale golden yellow, a silver sheen. Subtle notes of fresh herbs, yellow tropical fruit, nuances of fresh pear, mandarin zest. Juicy, some honeydew melon, a touch mineral, powerful and persistent, a salty note, a lemony aftertaste, already accessible.
91 Points, Peter Mooser, Falstaff.com (April 2021)
Condrieu Invitare 2022, Our Price $94
A weighty nose that has a creamy nectarine and peach Melba note. The palate is ripe and rich but also shows surprising freshness. Dense and layered palate with a slight grilled-almond hint. A long and rich unctuous finish with a floral note beneath. Attractive and really well balanced for this warm and ripe vintage.
17 Points, Alistair Cooper MW, jancisrobinson.com (September 2023)
Spinach pithivier, soft herb salad
Second Course
Crozes-Hermitage Blanc ‘Les Meysonniers’ 2018, Our Price $42
“… 2018 Crozes Hermitage les Meysonniers Blanc shows the generosity of the vintage in its medium to full-bodied palate and plump, generous feel. I love the way the Chapoutier whites have turned out in 2018, and this pure Marsanne is no exception.
91 Points, Joe Czerwinski, The Wine Advocate (December 2019)
92Points, Josh Raynold, Vinous (March 2020)
Hermitage Blanc ‘Chante Alouette’2020, Our Price $120
“ … Full bodied but not fat, with good weight, presence, mango-like acidity and deft oak work helping to underpin the rich fruit. Tangy, spicy finish of impressive length, ending with tobacco and cinnamon. An authentic white Hermitage with freshness and grandeur but also drinkability. A very good, classic vintage of this cuvée.
95 Points, Matt Walls, Decanter (November 2023)
95 Points, Kristen Bieler, Wine Spectator (March 2024)
95 Points, Stuart Piggot, jamessuckling.com (April 2023)
Ermitage ‘de l’Orée’ Blanc 2018, Our Price $477
Classy hints of pencil shavings accent the pear, nectarine and melon fruit in the full-bodied, voluptuous 2018 Ermitage de l'Orée. Despite the wine's ample richness and weight, it's surprisingly fresh and zesty, with hints of citrus zest and brine lingering on the finish.
98 Points James Suckling
98 Points Jeb Dunnuck
18 Points Jancis Robinson
Abrolhos scallop, Njuda butter, lemon
Third Course
‘Croix de Bois’ Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2006, Our Price $236
The 2006 Chateauneuf du Pape Croix de Bois reveals an intense Provencal herb character as well as peppery, roasted meat, garrigue, and kirsch liqueur notes, full body, good richness, and a long finish. …The less expensive Chapoutier offerings continue to increase in quality.
92 Points, Robert M. Parker, Jr., The Wine Advocate (October 2008)
‘Croix de Bois’ Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2011, Our Price $260
With more richness and depth, and showing the classic fruit-forward and up-front profile of the terroir, the 2011 Chateauneuf du Pape Croix de Bois is 100% Grenache that comes from the southeastern part of the appellation. Loaded with notions of strawberries, kirsch, underbrush and garrigue, it has medium to full-bodied richness with a supple, fleshy and hedonistically styled feel on the palate.
92 Points, Jeb Dunnuck, The Wine Advocate (October 2013)
Barbe Rac’ Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2011, Our Price $370
Slightly deeper in color, the 2011 Chateauneuf du Pape Barbe Rac is a superb success in the vintage. Offering surprising richness and depth, with a medium to full-bodied, nicely concentrated feel on the palate, it offers copious black cherry, leather, ground pepper and minerality on the nose. As with the other cuvees, it is a forward, fleshy vintage for the cuvee, yet it possesses fine tannin, terrific mid-palate depth and an all-around balanced, harmonious feel that should allow it to age gracefully.
93 Points, Jeb Dunnuck, The Wine Advocate (October 2013)
Roasted prawns, porcini crema, crispy shallots
Fourth Course
‘Ermitage Rouge Le Pavillon’ 2021, Our Price $689
Welcome to the seductively dark and smoky heart of Hermitage. Enormously rich and spicy, with great blackberry fruit plus a touch of red beets, then the very bright and pure tannins charge through, followed by the mineral acidity that sets the sky alight at the extremely long and linear finish. How could you resist this beauty that is simultaneously so deep and playful? Great aging potential. From biodynamically grown grapes.
99 Points Stuart Piggot, Jamessuckling.com (May 2024)
Chapoutier's 2021 Ermitage le Pavillon features scents of crushed stone, cedar shavings and red raspberries on the nose. A top-notch effort from a challenging vintage, it's medium to full-bodied, quite taut and firm in the mouth but ripe and silky on the finish. No matter how much time one spends with Michel Chapoutier, he always manages to say something surprising. As an owner of biodynamically farmed properties in the Rhône, a participant in several joint ventures, a proprietor in numerous wine regions, owner of a large négociant business and a former president of Inter Rhône (the region's trade body), he has a global perspective that's probably unmatched in the Rhône.
‘Ermitage Rouge Le Pavillon’ 2018, Our Price $685
This beauty has closed down since bottling and will need considerable bottle age, but it’s a beauty. … this sensational wine hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a tight, backward mouthfeel, present tannins, and a great finish. As I wrote last year, this isn't for those seeking instant gratification and a solid 7-8 years of bottle age are warranted, but I suspect it will earn a triple-digit score at maturity and should have 40-50 years of longevity.
98 Points Jeb Dunnuck (November 2020)
‘Ermitage Rouge Le Pavillon’ 2009, Our Price $1,433
A perfect wine, the 2009 Ermitage Le Pavillon (1,093 cases) boasts a black/purple color as well as an extraordinary bouquet of acacia flowers, blackberries, blueberries, roasted meats, creme de cassis, truffles, graphite, powdered rock and new saddle leather. Extremely dense, noble and pure, this monumental Ermitage is built for 50-100 years of cellaring.
100 Points, Robert M. Parker, Jr., The Wine Advocate (December 2011)
97 Points, Wine Spectator
‘Ermitage Rouge Le Pavillon’ 2001, Our Price $1,105
Year in and year out, one of the three greatest Hermitages made is Chapoutier’s Le Pavillon. The 2001 Ermitage Le Pavillon exhibits a saturated ruby/purple color as well as a big, sweet nose of camphor, ink, creme de cassis, and hints of licorice as well as smoke. Although dense, rich, and full-bodied, the 2001 reveals more acidity in its delineated, nervous personality. Unquestionably great and intense, it will be less charming and precocious than its 2000 sibling.
97 Points, MW, Decanter