Hermitage

Overview

Hermitage is a single granite hill above the town of Tain-l’Hermitage in the Northern Rhône, producing both one of France’s greatest red wines (100% Syrah) and one of its most ageworthy whites (Marsanne, often with a small percentage of Roussanne). The hill faces due south and is divided into named lieux-dits including le Méal (the warmest, ripest sector), les Bessards (the most granite-dominant, most tannic), Greffieux, les Plantiers, Péléat, les Rocoules, and Diognières. The finest domaines blend multiple parcels for complexity. Hermitage rouge can age 30–50+ years; Hermitage blanc 20–40+ years.

Key Producers

• Domaine Jean-Louis Chave — the iconic benchmark; has made Hermitage since 1481
• Domaine Marc Sorrel — outstanding; both rouge and blanc, including single vineyard “le Gréal” and “les Rocoules”
• Maison E. Guigal — estate parcels; classic style
• Maison Paul Jaboulet Aîné — historic; “La Chapelle” the flagship

Grape Varieties

• Syrah — for red Hermitage; long-lived, dark, savory, iron-inflected
• Marsanne — dominant white variety; waxy, honeyed, exceptionally long-lived
• Roussanne — blended into white Hermitage in small percentages; adds floral lift

Style Notes

Red Hermitage in youth is dark, dense, tannic, and somewhat medicinal — a harbinger of greatness. With 15–20+ years it opens to extraordinary complexity: black olive, graphite, bacon fat, smoked meat, iron, and earth. Gilman notes the 2023 Sorrel “le Gréal” “reminds me strongly of Gérard Chave’s 1990 and 1991 Hermitage when those two vintages were young.” White Hermitage (Marsanne) is uniquely ageworthy — in youth mineral and austere; with age developing deep honey, wax, almonds, and smoke.

Vintage Notes (from VFTC #119)

• 2023 Sorrel Hermitage rouge: 13.5% alcohol; rated 94. “Touch of that medicinal quality of young Hermitage that I have always found to be a harbinger of greatness.”
• 2023 Sorrel “le Gréal”: 14%; rated 96. “Greatest young wine I have ever tasted from the Sorrel family.” Drinking window: 2042–2100+.
• 2023 Sorrel Hermitage Blanc: 14%; rated 93. Outstanding; accessible out of the blocks but built to age long.
• 2023 Sorrel “les Rocoules” Blanc: 15%; rated 91.
• 1991 Jaboulet “la Chapelle”: Still a bit adolescent at 34 years; rated 94. Shows the extraordinary longevity of top Hermitage.
• 1988 Chave Hermitage rouge: 92. Noted as a lesser blend (different importers got different cuvées in the 1980s).
• 1983 Jaboulet “la Chapelle”: 94. Full bloom.

My Tastings

(none yet)

Sources

• 119 — Annual Rhône Report (John Gilman, October 2025)