2010 Ermitage Blanc Le Reverdy

Another limited production offering made from a equal parts Marsanne and Roussanne is the 2010 Ermitage Le Reverdy Blanc, which comes from the Beaumes lieu-dit. Full-bodied with lots of rose petal, honeysuckle, candle wax and buttery citrus characteristics, this lusty white Hermitage is compelling, but very little is made. It should age effortlessly for two decades. The quality of Ferraton’s wines has been increasing with nearly every new vintage thanks to the efforts of Michel Chapoutier and his number one assistant, P.H. Morel, who has the responsibilities for these wines. I have included a few Southern Rhones that were not reviewed in Issue #203. Some of the 2011 white wines are in bottle, but the more serious cuvees are still in barrel. Ferraton produced four lieu-dit offerings in 2011, which I tasted with Michel Chapoutier and Pierre-Henri Morel. Importer: A French Paradox, Peoria, IL; tel. (309) 682-8994