WINEMAKER’S NOTES:
Ermitage L’Ermite is the most individual statement in the Hermitage appellation, and the most prized for followers of M. Chapoutier’s grandest of crus. L’Ermite Rouge, a very rare wine (approximately 375 cases annually) produced from a 9.5 acre site at the top of Hermitage hill, is an intense Syrah with massive tannins. The vineyard’s elevated position, over 200 meters, allows long ripening at the end of the growing season, and its loess soils provide excellent drainage for rainwater. The age of the vines averages over 80 years, and the vines are pruned to very low yield levels.
Deep red garnet with violet highlights. Black fruits with spice and ink notes. Tannins are not only very powerful but also mellow. Smoky notes and pepper wonderfully highlight the Syrah variety on granite soils.
96-98 Points – Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate
