Côtes du Rhône Cru AOC Hermitage
Over the centuries, this iconic wine has built its reputation around one very special hill, and a history wrapped in myth.
Originally, the hill was home to a hermitage founded in 1224 by Gaspard de Stérimberg. De Stérimberg was a knight of Blanche of Castile. When he returned battle-weary from the Albigensian crusade, he chose to withdraw from the world and live as a hermit at the top of this granite hill. Others soon joined him, and the new community turned to winegrowing.
It’s a charming story, but it overlooks the fact that Hermitage owes only its name to the hermit. The vineyard has been there since ancient times, making what the Romans called the “wines of Vienne.”
The distinctive vin de paille (straw wine) now being revived by some winemakers is a direct descendant of Gallo- Roman winemaking methods.
Informations
Climate: Semi-continental with mediterranean influences
Soils: Sandy / Granite / Clay / Rocky
Key figures
Production surface area in 2023: 136 HA
Total production in 2023: 4 977 HL
Average annual yeld: 37 HL/HA
Export: 42%
Recognition in AOC by the I.N.A.O.: 1937
Communes: Tain-l’Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage and Larnage
Grape varieties
Marsanne
An emblematic grape variety for white wines from the northern Rhône Valley, where it is often blended with Roussanne, Marsanne produces powerful wines with floral and hazelnut aromas which develop particularly with ageing.
Roussanne
A traditional grape variety from the northern crus of the Rhône Valley, where it is often associated with Marsanne, Roussanne is also grown in the southern part of the region. It produces elegant, fine, floral and complex wines.
Syrah (minimum 85%)
Syrah is one of the most emblematic red grape varieties of the northern part of the Côtes du Rhône. Due to its rarity, it is only used to produce certain great wines.
Vin de paille
- Marsanne,
- Roussanne
To know
History
The wines of Hermitage were popular with the Romans, who called them “the wines of Vienne” - just like those of Côte-Rôtie. Hermitage wines later became known as “St Christopher’s Hill wines” after the chapel dedicated to the Saint.
It would seem that the name “Hermitage” appeared only later, in the 17th century, in memory of Henri Gaspard de Stérimberg, who on his return from the Albigensian Crusades in the 13th century, withdrew from the world to live as a hermit on this hill granted him by Blanche of Castile, Queen of Spain. It is said he replanted the vineyard that would become known first as Ermitage, and then Hermitage. This was just the start of its success: under the reign of Louis XIV, Hermitage was the preferred wine of the Tsars of Russia; in fact, the list of Hermitage enthusiasts is long and illustrious, and includes notables such as Henry IV, Boileau, Louis XIII, Louis XIV, Nicolas II and Alexandre Dumas.
Hermitage was awarded AOC status in 1937.
Climate
The climate is Mediterranean, sheltered from northerly winds. Most of the slopes face south and enjoy good sun exposure.
Soils
This iconic terroir is made up of granitic sand with a covering of mica-schists and gneiss with rounded alluvial pebbles closer to the riverside. The diversity of soils also explains the number of different, named plots in the appellation area, including Bessards, Greffieux, Méal, Rocoules, Beaumes etc.
Hermitage hill can be subdivided into three sections. Starting from the west, on the left bank, the first section is Les Bessards, a hilly granite terroir considered to be the appellation’s “red” terroir. This is the slope where the eponymous Hermitage can be found, and also the famous L’Ermite vineyard.
The central section is divided into two parts.
- The upper part, Le Méal, has limestone and flint soils with a surface covering of rounded pebbles, and its south-facing vineyards produce wines bursting with sunshine.
- In the lower section, Les Greffieux, the soils are shaped by gully erosion, and are relatively more fertile.
Finally, the Murets and Dionnières parcels have a clay soil and far gentler slopes. They lie more to the east, and are superb white wine terroirs.
Geography
The Hermitage vineyards span three communes in the Drôme: Tain-l’Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage and Larnage, on the left bank of the Rhône.
Varieties and flavours
Reds are made from Syrah, and may contain up to 15% Roussanne and/or Marsanne. They show a deep, intense, ruby red colour. As they age, these robust, full-bodied wines become remarkably smooth and supple. They have good ageing potential of around 10 years, during which time the better vintages develop exquisite notes of violet, spice and blackcurrant.
Whites are made from Marsanne and Roussanne, showing a superb golden yellow colour and extraordinary smoothness and creamy, honeyed aromas of hazelnut, peach and apricot, some going on to develop scents of iris, narcissus and lime blossom.
Associated appellations
