The lucky winner will win 6 bottles of the 2013 M. Chapoutier "L'Ermite" Ermitage, generously donated by Serge Doré Selections. Serge has developed a portfolio of unique wines, mostly unknown in the U.S. Many of these wines, from more than 75 suppliers, have received top ratings from the best wine critics. The wines are often among the favorites of influential restaurateurs and oenophiles across the United States.

The M. CHAPOUTIER L’ERMITE 2013 HERMITAGE 

"Michel Chapoutier's enthusiasm and commitment to exceptional, naturally made wines is a winemaking triumph, as well as a clear victory for all who care about the quality of wine." ROBERT PARKER

"Winemakers who capture the essence of the Rhône's great vineyards become legends. And while there are several legends at work among these ancient vines, none is as young and none has moved so quickly to capture the imagination of Rhône lovers as Michel Chapoutier." WINE & SPIRITS MAGAZINE  

• Appellation: AOC Hermitage (Northern Rhône Valley)

• Blend: 100% Syrah

• Soil: Situated at the top of the Hermitage hill, around the chapel, in a place named the Ermite. The vines are 80 years old and are on granitic soils which are very poor.

• Harvest: Late hand-harvesting in order to obtain optimal alcohol content.          

• Winemaking: The harvest which is 100% destemmed, is matured in concrete tanks. Fermentation lasts around 4 weeks, to obtain soft and stable tannins to keep the wine for a very long time. The temperature does not exceed 32°C to enable good quality extraction. To make this wine, only the free-run juice is used.

• Aging: Free run juice is immediately transferred into new and one-year-old casks to be matured from 18 to 20 months.

96-98 The Wine Advocate: A candidate for the wine of the vintage, if not the best wine produced in all of France in 2013. As normal, it has an insane level of minerality, and frankly, I know of no better description of “liquid rock” than the mineral-like sensation induced by tasting this cuvee. Graphite, charcoal, licorice and sweet crème de cassis also all emerge from the glass. This gorgeous 2013 has full-bodied richness, terrific purity, ripe tannin structure and serious intensity. Give it 4-5 years and drink bottles over the following 2-3 decades. (JD)