Hermitage AOC

The Hermitage is one of the most famous wines of France. It grows at the same witnesses mountain on the true left bank of the Rhone, about 80 km south of the city of Lyon. The area the appellation covers parts of three municipalities of the department of Drôme: Tain l' Hermitage, Crozes -Hermitage and Larnage. Hermitage is the only wine region of the northern Rhone Valley, whose red and white wines alike enjoy high reputation. In the year 2005 4.238 hl 1133 hl of red wine and white wine were produced on 136 hectares of land. He must not be confused with the neighboring but far less noble Crozes -Hermitage.

Soil and climate

The Hermitage Hill was during the Ice Age, when the Rhone after a rapid drop in sea level created a breakthrough by this eastern foothills of the Massif Central. Despite the small size of the Hermitage is geologically very diverse. In the highest, the western part of the soil consists of granite, which weathers to a fine clay. The eastern, higher part of the slope by contrast, is in the middle of rubble sandstone and limestone, which had been transported from the Rhone the Alps. At the foot of the slope, there are younger sediments from the Würm. The highest points are in turn covered with loess. In order to secure the thin soil layers from sliding, walls were built of limestone.

In the northern Rhone Valley is continental and Mediterranean climate mix. The latter exerts a stronger influence on the Hermitage from as far north on the Côte -Rôtie. In addition to be extremely favorable microclimate - the Hermitage offers an ideal southern exposure while protecting from cold north winds. The rainfall is sufficient, but sometimes very violent, which is why an elaborate system was created by drainage.

Documents and wines

The obtained from the Syrah Red Wine from Hermitage is the most powerful and longest-lasting of the northern Rhone Valley. He has a deep color and develops complex aromas of fruit, spice and forest floor. The palate it is both powerful and gentle. It is always prepared with a long maceration and traditionally aged in wooden barrels. In some cases new barrels are used. A red Hermitage requires at least five better ten years of bottle age. Great vintages build several decades from long.

White grapes are Roussanne and Marsanne, the former being dominated because of their reliable income. The white Hermitage is very full-bodied, aromatic and full of finesse. Despite the low acid values ​​he is very storable. Great vintages develop up to 30 years in the bottle and develop complex fruit flavors. The base yield is low 40 hl / ha. A special feature is the straw wine, which is produced again since the early eighties with very low yields of 15 hl / ha.

The different soils have led to a classification into 20 individual layers. These were formerly hardly mentioned on the label, because Hermitage wines were typically blends of several layers. Since the end of the 80 years some producers have started to offer also single vineyard wines ( Méal Chapoutier, Delas Bessards ) The most important:

• Les Bessards: steep slopes with granite residual soil in the west of the mountain; provides the most powerful and longest lasting reds
• Le Méal: Ideal alignment in the mid- slope with high gravel and sand content; provides fine, complex and harmonious red and white wines
• L' Hermite: Above Le Méal located on kalkhaltigerem loess; less complex red wine, but excellent white wine
• Les Greffieux: Loamy of large pebbles interspersed ground at the foot of the hill; fine and aromatic red wines
• Rocoule: Same floor as Le Méal; excellent whiteness and very good red wines
• Les Murets: Sandy - rocky ground in the east of the hill; complex white wines

Producers Association of Hermitage has 18 members, including the cooperative La Cave de Tain, which produces 20.7 ha own vineyards and 9.75 ha of 14 winemakers supplier ends year on a quarter of the Hermitage wine. Particular reputation enjoy the wines of Jean -Louis Chave, Chapoutier Maison, Delas Frères, Bernard Faurie, Paul Jaboulet Ainé and Marc Sorrel. The cuvees Le Pavillon ( from Les Bessards ) of Chapoutier, La Chapelle ( in a different composition each year from Méal (minimum 25 %), Bessards, Greffieux, Rocoules, La Croix and Diognières ) of Jaboulet Ainé have Robert Parker each multiple received the highest rating of 100 points in his wine rating. The legendary 1961 vintage of La Chapelle is one of the most expensive wines in the world today ( at a Christie's auction in 2007 12 bottles for more than 173,000 € sold). He also is one of the wines that are the most counterfeited.

History

Viticulture at the Hermitage with sufficient security back to the Roman period. Already Strabo reported in 38 AD, that the banks of the Rhône vines are covered. At the top of the Hermitage was a temple of Hercules. After the destruction of the early Middle Ages it was replaced by a St. Christopher Chapel. According to legend, in 1224 the Crusaders Gaspard de Sterimberg as a hermit settled there and began to replant the hill again. The reputation of the wine spread through the many travelers who stopped here on the way from Lyon to the Mediterranean stopover. He was exported in the 17th century all over Europe, as well as to the court of the Russian Tsar. So also the French president Émile Loubet in 1902 proffers Hermitage during his state visit to Russia.

In 1937 the Hermitage appellation Controlée was launched. It is noteworthy that their definition has since remained unchanged. Today, 70 % of the vineyards are owned by the four largest producers.