Domaine Marc Sorrel
Overview
Domaine Marc Sorrel is one of the finest small producers on the hill of Hermitage, now run by Guillaume Sorrel (Marc’s son). The estate has parcels across several of Hermitage’s finest lieux-dits — Greffieux, les Plantiers, le Méal (one of the warmest and most prized sectors), and les Rocoules for the white. The domaine produces both the regular Hermitage rouge and blanc as well as two prestige single-terroir bottlings: “le Gréal” (rouge, from Greffieux and le Méal) and “les Rocoules” (blanc, single vineyard). Gilman describes the 2023 “le Gréal” as the greatest young wine he has ever tasted from the estate and compares it to Gérard Chave’s legendary 1990 and 1991 Hermitage in their youth.
Appellations
Key Wines
- Hermitage Rouge — from Greffieux and les Plantiers; raised in 5–7 year-old barrels for 18 months
- Hermitage “le Gréal” — prestige rouge from Greffieux and le Méal; aged a few months longer in cask than the regular bottling
- Hermitage Blanc — Marsanne from Greffieux and les Plantiers; barrel-fermented, 16 months old oak
- Hermitage “les Rocoules” Blanc — single vineyard white from Marsanne; can be very rich
- Crozes-Hermitage — from vines in the surrounding appellation
Style Notes
Guillaume Sorrel’s wines demonstrate the grand potential of Hermitage: precise, deeply mineral, with extraordinary longevity. The reds show the appellation’s characteristic “medicinal” quality in youth that Gilman identifies as a marker for greatness. The regular Hermitage blanc is more precise and lower-alcohol than “les Rocoules,” making it arguably the superior aging proposition in warm vintages. The “le Gréal” from Greffieux and le Méal combines the minerality of Greffieux with the opulence of le Méal for maximum complexity.
Tasting Notes (from VFTC #119)
- 2023 Hermitage Rouge: 13.5%; rated 94. “Touch of that medicinal quality of young Hermitage that I have always found to be a harbinger of greatness.” Drinking window: 2040–2100.
- 2023 Hermitage “le Gréal”: 14%; rated 96. “Greatest young wine I have ever tasted from the Sorrel family. Reminds me strongly of Gérard Chave’s 1990 and 1991 Hermitage when those two vintages were young.” Drinking window: 2042–2100+.
- 2023 Hermitage Blanc: 14%; rated 93. Outstanding; accessible but built for long aging. Drinking window: 2025–2050.
- 2023 Hermitage “les Rocoules” Blanc: 15%; rated 91. Very ripe; carries octane but slightly less precise than regular bottling. Drinking window: 2025–2035.
- 2023 Crozes-Hermitage: 13%; rated 92. “Fine bottle in the making.” Drinking window: 2033–2065.
My Tastings
Producer Profile (JLL / drinkRhone.com)
One of the few small domaines with vineyards in prime, central sites at Hermitage. There is a ringing authenticity about these wines, with father Marc leaning towards a traditional, full-hearted style.
Generational transition: Marc retired on 31 December 2018. Son Guillaume (first vintage 2019) is paying more attention to the vines than his father. He doesn’t drop leaves (more shade), and trains the canopy at height into a “pont” (bridge) between plants, as done by Jean-Louis Chave. The succession was sorted out with his sister, avoiding the estate being broken into smaller portions.
Le Greal red: Now rated a pretty regular five-star wine, a true child of the hill. Mighty in 2010, 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2020 (the last three crackerjack wines). Lives a good 35 years in greatest vintages.
Classic Hermitage red: Mostly from the low-lying Les Plantiers beside the town. The 2024 included 80% stems and was the best recent vintage — genuine, true, balanced, and upstanding.
Les Rocoules white: An STGT wine from pebbly soils of that grand cru Hermitage blanc vineyard. The 2021 was exceptional, aided by lower degree and freshness of that vintage.
Crozes-Hermitage white: A cracker from 1945 vines, the epitome of traditional white Rhone from the marriage of Marsanne and Roussanne. STGT, excellent from 2013 through 2023. Given more extended raising recently, rendering it more serious and complex with age.
Location: 128 bis avenue Jean Jaures, 26600 Tain l’Hermitage. Run by Guillaume Sorrel and companion Julie. Export markets: 1) GB, 2) Italy, 3) USA, 4) Singapore.
Key Wines & Vintage Notes (JLL / drinkRhone.com)
Hermitage Le Greal Rouge
From Greffieux and Le Meal. The prestige red; JLL rates this as a pretty regular five-star wine.
| Vintage | Rating | Drinking Window | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | — | 2053-55 | Several layers, impressive breadth, well composed |
| 2023 | — | 2052-54 | Red fruit gums, stylish, persistent air, cassis, good spine |
| 2022 | ★★★★★ | 2053-55 | Calm depth, raspberry, gunflint, breadth; a top example |
| 2021 | — | 2049-51 | Wide, simmered raspberry, very strong core |
| 2020 | ★★★★★–★★★★★★ | 2054-56 | Intense blackberry, soaked cherries; mighty vintage |
| 2019 | ★★★★ | 2058-61 | Inner power, strength, reserved; long-range potential |
| 2018 | — | 2053-56 | Bull’s blood intensity, concerted black fruit; “spectacular” |
Hermitage Les Rocoules Blanc
Single vineyard white from pebbly Rocoules soils. JLL calls it an STGT wine.
| Vintage | Rating | Drinking Window | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | — | 2048-50 | Smoky, buttered, gingerbread; cask sample |
| 2022 | ★★★★(★) | 2046-50 | Silky, glazed white fruits, murmurs its offer; refined |
| 2021 | ★★★★★ | 2046-48 | ”Sensuous”; creme patisserie, custard; exceptional in low-degree year |
| 2020 | — | 2043-45 | Very promising style and clarity |
| 2018 | — | 2043-46 | Broad, prolonged elegance, honeyed dried fruits |
Hermitage Rouge (Classic)
Mostly from Les Plantiers. The 2024 included 80% stems — “the best recent vintage: genuine, true, balanced.”
| Vintage | Rating | Drinking Window | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | — | 2049-51 | 80% whole bunch; mulberry, raspberry, mineral, floral |
| 2022 | ★★★★ | 2047-49 | Stewed red fruits, stone fruit; decant it |
| 2020 | — | 2045-47 | Reserved, promising black fruits, freshness |
| 2018 | — | 2042-44 | Sweetly tuned, pure raspberry, pork scratchings |
Crozes-Hermitage Rouge
| Vintage | Rating | Drinking Window | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | ★★★★+ | 2040-42 | Soaked cherries, griottes; elegant cask sample |
| 2022 | ★★★★ | 2038-41 | Raspberry, good lustre, smooth |
| 2018 | — | 2034-36 | Sweet fat raspberry, lardon, sound |
Crozes-Hermitage Blanc
From 1945 vines. JLL: “The epitome of traditional white Rhone.”
| Vintage | Rating | Drinking Window | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | ★★★★+ | 2039-41 | Smoky, toasted, white peach, fluid |
| 2022 | ★★★(★) | 2034-36 | Interesting evolution, amontillado, white raisin |
| 2021 | — | 2035-37 | Toasty, apricot, Marsanne-led |
Vintage Context (from JLL vintage reports)
- 2020: Le Greal rated five-to-six stars (“mighty vintage”). The 2020 Hermitage was the best of the “hot era” vintages for balanced expression at this estate. See 2020 Rhone Vintage.
- 2021: Les Rocoules blanc exceptional — five stars (“sensuous”); aided by the low degree and high acidity of the vintage. JLL noted that the 2021 was “the best year” for Rocoules given the freshness. See 2021 Rhone Vintage.
2019 Hermitage: Le Gréal four stars with “inner power, strength, reserved; long-range potential.” Marc’s last vintage before retirement (December 31, 2018); Guillaume’s first full vintage. Guillaume is paying more attention to vines, training canopy at height into a “pont” as done by Chave. See 2019 Rhone Vintage.
2018 Hermitage: Le Gréal described as “bull’s blood intensity, concerted black fruit; spectacular.” Hermitage blanc “broad, prolonged elegance, honeyed dried fruits.” Classic rouge: “sweetly tuned, pure raspberry, pork scratchings.” Marc’s final vintage — one of his finest. A triumph for the Northern Rhône whites especially. See 2018 Rhone Vintage.
2017 Hermitage: Le Gréal rated among the “mighty” vintages alongside 2010, 2015, 2018, and 2020. Dense, immediate reds with packed content. Low acidity vintage. See 2017 Rhone Vintage.
2015 Hermitage: Le Gréal among the “mighty” vintages. Full-bodied, packed reds that were complete from an unusually early stage. Structured tannins built for decades. See 2015 Rhone Vintage.
2013 Hermitage: Le Gréal six stars. Les Rocoules (white) five stars. A very good vintage — perhaps shading 2012 at the top end, starting from a richer, deeper base while retaining freshness. Chapoutier Le Pavillon and Le Méal also five stars. See 2013 Rhone Vintage.
2010 Hermitage: Le Gréal five stars. Les Rocoules (white) five stars. An excellent vintage of supreme balance — fresh, no excess power. The wines can live 25-30 years. See 2010 Rhone Vintage.
2009 Hermitage: Le Gréal six stars. Les Rocoules (white) five stars. Outstanding — one of the finest Hermitage vintages. Dense, concentrated, with depth and persistence. See 2009 Rhone Vintage.
2005 Hermitage: A Mighty Year. JLL was persuaded from his first tasting at Chave’s in December 2005 that this was indeed a landmark. The Hermitage reds are classy, complete. The Marsanne-led whites are solid, more intense than 2004. See 2005 Rhone Vintage.
Sources
sources/articles/VFTC/VFTC Sept-Oct 2025 #119.txt— Annual Rhône Report (John Gilman, October 2025)sources/articles/JLL/Marc_Sorrel.txtsources/articles/JLL/rhone_wines_data.json— Wine-by-wine vintage notes (JLL / drinkRhone.com)sources/articles/JLL/rhone_vintage_reports.json— JLL vintage reports 2005-2024