Hermitage

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Overview

The hill of Hermitage is a granitic outpost standing on the right bank of the Rhone River. Hermitage is one of the northern Rhone’s smaller appellations with only 130 hectares covering the south facing slope of the hill above the town of Tain l’Hermitage. This sub region produces both red and white wines.

The vineyards of Hermitage are located on steep hillsides at up to 344 metres altitude and with a southern exposure. The soil consists of vary. . . Read More >

Overview

The vineyards of Hermitage are located on steep hillsides at up to 344 metres altitude and with a southern exposure. The soil consists of varying proportions of granite, iron, limestone, clay, and quartz.

Traditionally the larger producers blended wines from the different sections to create a whole supposedly better than the sum of its parts. Smaller growers were forced to create single vineyard wines depending on their holdings which then created interest in the various facets of the appellation and eventually even the larger growers began offering single vineyard wines from different locations around the face of Hermitage.

Key Grape Varieties

Although the appellation allows for the use of up to 15% white grapes – Marsanne and Roussanne are allowed – most wines are 100% Syrah making Hermitage one of the world’s greatest expressions of that noble variety, and one that demands time in the cellar to show of its best. These are some of the longest-lived wines in all of the Rhone.

Hermitage also produces outstanding white wine. As the hill of Hermitage turns slightly east – and the soil changes to include more limestone – more vineyards are planted with white grapes. Marsanne dominates here but most wines are blended with Roussanne and some indeed may be single varietals of either, although Roussanne is rather rare (and more commonly found in the southern Rhone appellation of Chateauneuf-du-Pape).

While white Hermitage is immediately appealing with fragrance of white flowers and stone fruits, the wines have the ability to age for years taking on honeyed notes with nuts and dried flowers as they age yet keeping a tight structure despite their relatively low acidity. White Hermitage flies slightly under the radar making it a value proposition in times when the prices of others are escalating madly. Today, 30% of production on the Hermitage hill is white wine.

Food Pairing

Classic food matches for Hermitage rouge are grilled or barbecued steak and beef but is also delicious served with Wagyu and roast lamb. Dried herbs such as rosemary, thyme, and oregano, along with black olives, and mushrooms go extremely well with many types of northern Rhone Syrah. Other very good food choices include venison and other types of game. Hermitage is also a delicious match for cheese boards, especially hard cow’s, and sheep’s milk cheeses, such as for example Comte and Manchego.

White Hermitage is delicious with rich and textural foods such as terrine of foie gras, lobster bisque, tuna steak, paella with aioli, burrata with fresh nectarine, and seared scallops with apple sauce.