Millésime 2001

Wine Advocate #156 - Dec 2004

Score :  96

A stunning effort, the 2001 Hermitage Ex-Voto blanc is an 8,000-bottle cuvee produced from 50 and 90-year old vines in Les Murets and l’Ermite vineyards; it will only be made in the greatest vintages. Aged in 100% new oak for 18 months, it is a blend of 95% Marsanne and 5% Roussanne. This fabulous white Hermitage ranks alongside Chapoutier’s limited cuvees of Le Meal, l’Ermite, and l’Oree. Guigal’s 2001 Hermitage Ex-Voto offers up stupendous aromas of white peaches, truffles, quince, and a liqueur of stones. This amazing white should drink well young, yet last 2-3 decades. Drink: 2004 - 2034. Robert Parker.

Wine Spectator - May 15, 2005

Score: 93

Packed with mango, peach, melon and macadamia nut flavors, this maintains terrific focus and intensity through the long, ripe, butter- and toast-filled finish. Almost tannic, with the spine for serious cellaring. Drink now through 2012. 700 cases made. James Molesworth.

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar - Jan/Feb 05

Score : 92(+?) 

More deeply pitched, exotic aromas of mirabelle, peach, pain grille, nutty oak, marzipan, clove and acacia honey. Superrich and liqueur-like, with flavors of peach, pear, acacia honey, roasted grain and nuts. As fat and rich as this is, it's also quite lively in the mouth, not to mention in need of bottle aging, with a healthy pH. Finishes very long and spicy. Made from a combination of 45- and 90-year-old vines. The Guigals stopped stirring the lees after the end of the secondary fermentation (they stirred the Condrieus virtually until the bottling), as the wine was already rich enough. Stephen Tanzer.