E. Guigal : Ex Voto 2013

The 2013 Hermitage Ex Voto Blanc is a head-turner that offers sensational notes of buttered stone fruits, charcoal, toasted bread, toasted nuts and freshly crushed rocks. Take Marsanne and filter it through a bed of rocks, and you’d have an idea of what this beauty tastes like. Full-bodied, thick, unctuous and concentrated, it’s certainly one of the most exciting dry whites coming from the Northern Rhône Valley today.

Ripe and enticing, with lemon curd, apricot gelée and nectarine flavors bursting forth, backed by light citrus oil, blanched almond and salted butter notes. Shows a flash of green tea through the finish. Exotic in range, refined and detailed in feel. Drink now through 2027. 20 cases imported.

From 60 to 100+ year-old vines, 20% from Hermite and 80% from Murets. This has an intense, oaky nose of beeswax, marzipan, macadamia and cashew. The oak influence is strong in both flavour and texture, but underneath there is real power and vinous intensity of fruit. It’s a large-framed wine, very full-bodied, powerful, oily and mouth-filling. Very long finish.

Potentially Ex Voto… Made from their own vines and vinified in Ampuis. Les Murets, Ermite. The 2012 vintage of this will almost certainly exist. As for 2013, they have still to decide. Broad and rich but not that complex. Very satin textured but the flavours are a tad undeveloped. (JR)

(aged for 30 months in all new oak barrels) Brilliant yellow. A powerful, seductively perfumed bouquet evokes poached pear, peach nectar, honey, smoky lees and sweet butter. Offers fleshy, palate-staining orchard and pit fruit and buttery brioche and honeysuckle flavors, plus a vanilla note that emerges stealthily on the back half. Finishes with superb focus and mineral-driven persistence, leaving a suave floral note behind.

The current release (there’s no 2014 Ex Voto Blanc), the 2013 Ermitage Ex Voto Blanc continues to show brilliantly. Possessing a medium gold color and vibrant notes of caramelized citrus, toasted nuts, honeysuckle, wood smoke, and brioche, it has a huge, full-bodied profile, perfect balance, remarkable freshness, and a great finish. It’s a quintessential Hermitage Blanc to drink over the coming 15+ years.