M. Chapoutier : Les Greffieux 2008

The 2008 Ermitage Les Greffieux (307 cases) possesses abundant notes of crème de cassis, boysenberries, and crushed rock, as well as a decisive minerality and headiness. With medium to full body and supple tannins, it is undeniably impressive for this vintage. Other extraordinary efforts to watch for include the 2009 Bila Haut Lesquerde, a Syrah-dominated wine that I scored in the upper 90s. Equally profound, but from a completely different blend, is the Bila Haut Côtes du Roussillon Villages La Tour de France, which is a blend of 90% Grenache and 10% Syrah. Both offerings are as remarkable as wine can be. From Australia, notable wines include the Domaine Tournon 2009 Shiraz (or Syrah), an outstanding red sold at a fair price, and his single-vineyard offerings, the 2009 Shiraz Shays’ Flat and the 2009 Shiraz Landsborough, both extraordinary, mid-90-point Syrahs from Victoria. Also, readers should not forget his 2009 La Pleiade M45, a Syrah from the Cambrian soils of Heathcote. An Australian wine that flirts with perfection, which I had never tasted before, is the 2009 Shiraz One Shot from Beechworth, which is like a liqueur of blueberries and raspberries intermixed with graphite, tar, and minerality. Other stunning offerings from Domaine Terlato and Chapoutier include the 2009 Shiraz Malakoff (rated 92–94) and the 2009 Shiraz L Block (rated 93–95+). Last but not least, Michel Chapoutier has entered the Portuguese wine arena, producing two extraordinary wines from a 5-hectare parcel in the Douro. The 2009 Touriga Nacional (rated 94–96) comes from pure schist soils. It reveals incredible floral notes intertwined with sweet blueberry, black raspberry, and cassis. As amazing as it is, it may be surpassed by the 2009 Touriga Nacional Pinteivera from Pinhão. It is undeniably the single greatest red Portuguese wine I have ever tasted. It, too, comes from schist soils. Both of these wines are remarkable efforts from what may be the world’s leading, irreverent genius in winemaking and winemaking philosophy. And one more thing about the remarkable Michel Chapoutier: he now has property in Alsace, Domaine Schieferkopf. I tasted a 2009 Riesling (rated 89), 2009 Riesling Buehl (rated 93), and 2009 Riesling Fels (rated 94). All are very dry, crisp, medium- to full-bodied Rieslings from the Andlau sector of northern Alsace. These remarkable whites come from schist soils, and Chapoutier has again demonstrated his Midas touch with a completely different varietal. Michel Chapoutier is firmly convinced that 2009 is the greatest vintage of his lifetime, which means 2009 surpasses 2003 (he made some great wines in that unusual vintage), 1999, 1990, and 1989 (his debut vintage after taking over the firm). These wines are all produced from biodynamically farmed vineyards. Moreover, there is no chaptalization or acidification, and as Michel Chapoutier says, he wants to capture each vintage in photographic detail. It is also important to recognize Chapoutier’s life philosophy, which, rather than being obsessed with correcting one’s faults, is dedicated to capitalizing on one’s strengths. For all his charm and bravado, Chapoutier is the quintessential man of the soil, a true terroiriste dedicated to producing the most vivid, natural, and unadulterated expressions of the many different vineyards with which he works. While 2009 was a perfect year of extraordinary concentration as well as freshness, the 2008 vintage experienced huge rainstorms on September 5, 6, and 8. However, Chapoutier argues that while his biodynamically farmed vineyards suffered some dilution, they had no sanitary problems like many other estates endured. Certainly his 2008s appear to be among the strongest efforts in a disappointing vintage in the Northern Rhône. One expects Chapoutier to excel with his four Hermitage vineyards (Le Pavillon, l’Ermite, Le Méal, and Les Greffieux). Tasting through the 2009s reinforces the belief that this is one of the all-time great vintages for the entire Northern Rhône Valley. It couldn’t happen at a better time. While certain 2003s are great, there really hasn’t been an overall consistently profound vintage in the Northern Rhône since 1990. Connoisseurs should be stocking up on the single-vineyard offerings, both white and red, which are spectacular. Michel Chapoutier makes a bevy of other wines that merit a few notes because they are so good. Even though they are not from my areas of responsibility, I thought I would mention a few that stood out when I tasted with him. Like an itinerant genius, Chapoutier has projects in Australia, Portugal, and southern France. My colleague David Schildknecht and I have written about his exquisite offerings from the Côtes du Roussillon under the label Domaine de Bila Haut, and his partnership with the Laughton family for his Agly Brothers Côtes du Roussillon rouge. These wines all merit consumers’ attention. Importer: Terlato Wines International, Lake Bluff, IL; tel. (847) 604-8900

This has a nice broad feel, displaying cocoa, plum, fig and maduro tobacco carried by a loamy edge. Lightly firm through the medium-weight finish, with the tobacco and loam hanging on. Drink now through 2014. 40 cases imported.

Drying out a bit and pretty hard work. (JR)

Bright ruby. Sappy and tightly focused raspberry and cherry aromas are complemented by notes of cinnamon and allspice. Sweet and penetrating on the palate, which offers sexy red berry preserve and floral flavors, with a seamless texture and very good clarity. Brisk and spicy on the finish, which echoes the raspberry note. There's a very appealing pinot-like quality here.

A beautiful greffieux, flavorful and fleshy, with thick tannins and substantial body, showing impeccable ripeness. The rigor in the vineyard and the cellar pays off; there’s nothing to fault in this wine given the vintage. The ripeness is high and the tannins are ripe.