Ermitage L'Orée, Maison M. Chapoutier 2022

Leading off the top Hermitage Blanc, the 2022 Ermitage De L'Orée comes all from the limestone soils of the Les Murets lieu-dit and was raised mostly in demi-muids. It’s a fresher, more focused version compared to past vintages but it's still a beautifully concentrated, medium to full-bodied, impressive effort that has tons to love. Quince, honeyed stone fruits, crushed stone, and citrus oil all emerge from the glass, and it hits the palate with ample richness and depth, nicely integrated acidity, and just about flawless overall balance. It's going to gain a touch of weight over the coming year or two and should have two decades of overall longevity.