Showing signs of maturity, the 2004 Ermitage le Meal is an elegant, pretty and seamless Hermitage that offers up plenty of dried flowers, dried spices, leather and both blackberry and raspberry-like fruit characteristics. It's fully mature and I'd opt for drinking bottles over the coming 7-8 years.

All of the single vineyard Ermitages turned out as good as I had hoped, possibly even better. In short they are among the strongest wines one could hope for in this vintage. The 2004 Ermitage Le Meal boasts rich creme de cassis fruit, medium to full body, loads of licorice, moderate tannin, and good acidity. Give it 3-4 years of cellaring and drink it over the following 15-16 years. Importer: Terlato Wines International, Lake Bluff, IL; tel. (847) 604-8900

Has fine purity for the vintage, with silky-textured red cherry, raspberry and plum fruit flavors intertwined with mineral, light cocoa and floral notes. Gains weight through the lengthy finish. Best from 2008 through 2017. 240 cases made, 85 cases imported.??–JM??Region: France / Northern Rh?ne / Ermitage Select to Add

Le Meal is said to be the warmest terroir on the Hermitage hill, and thus it is no surprise that this bottling fared the best in the challenging 2004 vintage. Flamboyant, creamy waves of raspberry fruit flood the palate, bringing hints of meat, smoke and pepper along for the ride and developing lovely soft tannins on the caressing finish. Approachable now, but should age well through 2020.——J.C.(9/1/2007)—— 96