M Chapoutier Chante Alouette Hermitage Blanc 2020 750ml

M. Chapoutier Chante-Alouette Hermitage Blanc 2020 is a prestigious, terroir-driven white from the iconic Hermitage appellation in the Northern Rhône. "Chante-Alouette" (meaning "lark sings") comes from a high-lying plot with a mix of loess and finely decomposed granite soils over red clays, which contribute richness, freshness, salinity, and minerality. This cuvée represents Chapoutier's blended approach to Hermitage white (as opposed to their single-parcel selections) and showcases biodynamic farming with a focus on Marsanne's potential for power, elegance, and aging.

Blend and Production

• Nearly 100% Marsanne (sometimes with trace Roussanne, but often listed as 100% Marsanne).
• The 2020 vintage delivered ripe fruit in the Northern Rhône, balanced by the granite-influenced acidity and structure.
• Grapes undergo direct pressing, fermentation in a mix of vessels (including oak casks), and aging that builds texture through lees contact while preserving vibrancy. The result is a full-bodied yet focused white with integrated oak and excellent aging potential (10–15+ years).

Tasting Notes

• Appearance: Brilliant golden-green to golden yellow with luminous reflections.
• Nose: Complex and subtle yet rich — quince, ripe peach, mirabelle plum, melon, honeyed notes, toasted marshmallow, pear, citrus, walnut, ginger, acacia and linden flowers, with hints of honeycomb, flint/mineral, and toast.
• Palate: Powerful yet elegant and balanced, with a frank attack, silky texture, and good weight without heaviness. Flavors echo the nose with ripe stone fruit (apricot, mango-like), honey, almond on the finish, and underlying minerality/salinity. It shows beautiful integration, drive, vibrant acidity, and a long, lingering finish with notes of dried verbena, white tea tannins, salted buttery brioche, or spice (cinnamon/tobacco in some descriptions). Medium- to full-bodied, harmonious, and refreshing despite the ripeness.

Critics loved it: 95 points James Suckling, 95 points Wine Spectator (impressive concentration with melon, quince, heather, wet stone, and a honeyed yet defined palate), 92–96 points across sources like Jeb Dunnuck (brilliant, snatch it up), Wine Advocate (charming, focused, long and vibrant), and Vinous. In 2026, it's drinking beautifully now with room to evolve further into nutty, honeyed, and evolved complexity.