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Bernard Faurie Hermitage Bessards Méal 2019

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Bernard Faurie Hermitage Bessards Méal 2019
Producer Bernard Faurie
Region, Country Hermitage, France
Bottle Size 750ml
Product Code 20769-750

Gold capsule. Faurie farms just 0.2 hectares of Le Méal, which was planted in the 1940s. As the name suggests, in 2019 this was blended with selected parcels from his near-100-year-old vineyard at Les Bessards. With its direct southerly exposure Le Méal is perhaps the hill’s warmest site, and produces the most layered and hedonistic wine of the area. Faurie calls the wines from here “vin noblesse”, in this blend providing the opulence and texture. The Bessards component gives “the skeleton”—the wine’s structure and mineral drive—as well as lifted perfume. This particular blend is roughly 60% Les Bessards and 40% Le Méal, assembled at harvest time.

As for all of Faurie’s reds, this was 100% whole-bunch, and the winemaking was the same as for the wine above. It was bottled unfiltered, by hand, from two used demi-muids. Faurie describes this wine as “une force” and he’s right. It’s a Hermitage of devastating intensity and power, with more depth and a darker fruit profile than the wine above. Decades will not weary it!

Bernard Faurie Hermitage Bessards Méal 2019

Reviews

“Potent dark berry preserve, cherry, exotic spice, potpourri and smoky mineral aromas convey impressive energy and take on a subtle smoked meat nuance with air. Sappy, deeply concentrated but lively blackberry, bitter cherry and salty olive paste flavors stain the palate and show no rough edges. Sweet and seamless in texture, finishing with superb, floral-dominated persistence and fine-grained tannins that add subtle grip.” 95-97 points
Josh Reynolds, Vinous
“Dark red; the nose bears an aroma of griottes, soaked cherries, has violet notions, prune fruit ripeness, but isn’t static, carries inner sun depth, a compact tone from that. The palate debut is tight, not much on the go, has inner heart, even strength. Iron-lead pencil come through on the second half – it’s very Bessards there. The finish is also tight, close-knit. It’s almost chunky, long-term wine, builds its defences in the persistent second half. There is some solar effect within – very compressed, and there’s only a small show of intense juice for now.” 5 stars
John Livingstone-Learmonth, Drink Rhone

Reviews

“Potent dark berry preserve, cherry, exotic spice, potpourri and smoky mineral aromas convey impressive energy and take on a subtle smoked meat nuance with air. Sappy, deeply concentrated but lively blackberry, bitter cherry and salty olive paste flavors stain the palate and show no rough edges. Sweet and seamless in texture, finishing with superb, floral-dominated persistence and fine-grained tannins that add subtle grip.” 95-97 points
Josh Reynolds, Vinous
“Dark red; the nose bears an aroma of griottes, soaked cherries, has violet notions, prune fruit ripeness, but isn’t static, carries inner sun depth, a compact tone from that. The palate debut is tight, not much on the go, has inner heart, even strength. Iron-lead pencil come through on the second half – it’s very Bessards there. The finish is also tight, close-knit. It’s almost chunky, long-term wine, builds its defences in the persistent second half. There is some solar effect within – very compressed, and there’s only a small show of intense juice for now.” 5 stars
John Livingstone-Learmonth, Drink Rhone

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