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99 RP. "I have been extolling the Montrachet-like character of Chapoutier's Hermitage Cuvée De L'Orée for much of this decade. Each year he comes closer to achieving perfection with this remarkable wine, of which there are 500 cases. A mini-vertical tasting of the 1993, 1992, and 1991 Hermitage Cuvée De L'Orée proved just how brilliant those wines are. It is not surprising that the 1991 was great as it was an excellent year in Hermitage, but the sensational quality of the 1992 and 1993 were once again confirmed. Chapoutier's top cuvées are consistently among the world's greatest wines. Unfortunately, they are made in extremely small quantities, ranging from 250 cases of the St.-Joseph Les Granites, to 600 cases of the Hermitage La Pavillon. They are also expensive, but no one can argue the fact that consumers are getting some of the world's greatest, most natural expressions of terroir, varietal character, and vintage personality. Moreover, these special cuvées have been remarkably brilliant in such difficult vintages as 1992 and 1993, where the finest Rhone wines were produced by Chapoutier. If my tasting notes read like a promotional campaign for this estate, it is because these are among the greatest wines I have ever tasted." Wine Advocate #107, Oct 1996 |