Ermitage Flétri sur Souche 2001

Description (detail)

The Ermitage Flétri sur Souche 2001 is among the great aged sweet wines of Valais. The Marsanne grapes for this exceptional vintage were harvested in mid-January – at an enormous 178° Oechsle. The extended drying period on the vine naturally concentrated the sugars, aromas, and extract.

Now, after some 25 years of aging, the wine reveals the full character of great Marsanne: intense notes of raspberry brandy and white truffle, along with exotic fruits, floral hints, and a captivating, mature spiciness. On the palate, it is concentrated and liqueur-like, powerful and opulent, yet imbued with the inner tension that allows great Ermitage wines to age for decades. An exceptional wine for contemplation – and a piece of Valais wine history.

An exceptional rarity: Only 1,600 half-bottles of this great Ermitage were produced. It is virtually impossible to find in Switzerland and is today a true rarity and a fascinating testament to the longevity of great Valais Marsanne wines.

Sweet wine

Prozent

14.0

Option 1: Beschrieb

37.5cl

Option 1: Jahrgang

2001

Option 1: Preis

CHF 245

Matching mood

sensual & profound

Characteristics

Aromen (Nase)

White truffles, raspberry spirit and exotic fruits, complex and intense.

Aromen (Mund)

Enormously concentrated and opulent, yet elegant and precise, with a long, multi-layered finale.

Opulent and powerful

Oak barrel

Pure-sorted

Late vintage

Rarity

Blue mould cheese

Foie gras

Ready to drink: now – can be stored for a longer period if stored optimally.

A Word from the Winemaker

Here’s what the Mercier family has to say about this wine

This isn't a personal statement, but we're convinced the Mercier family would agree:

Some wines don't need to rush. The grapes for this Ermitage were allowed to remain on the vine until mid-January – and the wine then matured in the bottle for more than two decades. This wine speaks above all of one ingredient: time.

Our story

What connects us with this winery...

Denis Mercier SA

The eight-hectare vineyard with more than 50 plots around the town of Sierre was founded in 1982. The vines are mainly located in two places: Pradec, around the castle of Mercier, and Goubing, near our cellar.

Our soils are clayey and calcareous, dry and deep. For many years, the surface of the soil has been covered with natural vegetation. The entire vineyard is cultivated in an environmentally friendly way as far as possible. Caring for nature is very important to us.

The top priority for the production of quality grapes is to reduce the quantity of grapes, if necessary, right from the start in order to achieve a maximum of concentrated aromas. Each grape variety needs its own acclimatization in a given environment in order to develop its personal organoleptic potential.

The grape harvest from our plots is excellent. Our oenologist devotes her care to fermentation management in order to specifically highlight the authenticity of each terroir. The work in the wine cellar and in the vines is carried out with great sensitivity. The full aroma of individual wines is achieved by ageing in barriques.

A visit to our estate is much more than just a tasting. It is a pleasure and a moment of exchange.
Come and discover our treasures.

Madeleine, Anne-Catherine and Denis Mercier

More about the grape variety

Ermitage

«The daredevil Valaisan»

Marsanne - called Ermitage in Valais - is a grape variety from the French wine-growing region of Côtes du Rhône and was introduced to Valais in the 19th century.

Its fruit produces full-bodied wines with red fruit aromas. The little secret of Marsanne: a daring grape variety that is not afraid to grow in dry, less fertile soil. However, this vigorous, late-ripening variety only develops its potential on the best sites and only when quantities are strictly limited.

Certain vintages allow late harvests. As a sweet wine, Ermitage offers a rich body, sensual opulence and subtle aromatics reminiscent of truffles, honey and raspberry brandy. Whether dry or sweet; the Ermitage needs a few years of maturation, as its harmony becomes more expressive with the years!

Learn more about this grape variety