Discover Hermitage in 6 wines
The site of one of the United States’ third president, Thomas Jefferson’s favorite wines, Hermitage (also known as Ermitage) is a tiny, hallowed AOC on the namesake hill in France’s Northern Rhône Valley. Identifiable by its famous hilltop chapel, Saint Christopher, granite soils and steep slopes turn out concentrated, spicy, tannic, cellar-worthy reds and rich, fruity, floral whites with production at around 55,000 cases annually. Named a Protected National Heritage Site by the French Government, the biggest winemaking names include Jean-Louis Chave, Chapoutier, Guigal, Paul Jaboulet Aîné, and Delas Frères.
Fast facts
Name: The appellation’s name is connected to a legendary Knight, Gaspard de Stérimberg, who was wounded during the Albigensian Crusade in 1224 in what is now Languedoc. The Queen of France granted him permission to build a small sanctuary on the hillside where he lived out his life in the lifestyle of a hermit.
Location: A prestigious Northern Rhône appellation, Hermitage covers only 140 hectares. Vineyards cloak the famous hill of the same name, which peaks at 344 meters. It’s the sole major AOC in Northern Rhône to be located on the east flank of the river. Found above the towns of Tain and Tournon, Hermitage is in the southern reaches of the regional appellation, located about 30 miles south of Côte Rôtie.
Climate and Soil: Hermitage vineyards are cultivated on a south-facing, sun-soaked hillside. Soils are varied, containing sandy gravel, limestone, and a bedrock of heat-retaining granite that aids in full grape ripening. Vineyards on the western side of the hill tend to display very precise terroir characteristics because of their steep incline and afternoon sunlight exposure. La Chapelle, Les Bessards, and Le Méal are a few of Hermitage’s most celebrated vineyards.
Grapes: Syrah, Marsanne, Roussanne are this appellation’s only grapes. For red Hermitage, fruit is traditionally blended from several lieux-dits, but producers are also crafting single-vineyard wines. Marsanne and Roussanne are allowed in red Hermitage but rarely appear, shining in the region’s distinct white blends instead.
Appellation: Hermitage acquired its AOC status in 1937.
Food pairing: The rich, tannic prolife of Hermitage makes it an ideal wine for grilled or braised lamb and beef, pepper-crusted filet mignon, game dishes, and hearty stews. On the cheese front, aged Comté, Gouda, Beaufort, and Bleu d'Auvergne are perfect picks. White Hermitage, with its rich, oily texture and fruity elegance, matches beautifully with creamy or buttery dishes like shellfish, lobster, seared fish, or spicy Asian cuisine. Ideal cheeses include Roquefort, Camembert, and Brie de Meaux, and it even goes with white chocolate mousse.
Fun fact: Throughout the 19th century, Bordeaux winemakers frequently added Hermitage to their wines to add color, body, and tannin, and in a 1961 blind tasting, Hermitage La Chapelle was mistaken for Château Margaux!
Join Thomas Jefferson, plus French and English monarchs of old, to enjoy this most distinguished of wines. We’ve curated six for you to explore, each scoring higher than 95 points.
Indulge in the wines:
Founded nearly two centuries ago, Paul Jaboulet Aîné needs no introduction to fans of the Rhône Valley, where it cultivates vines with an emphasis on sustainable practices. Revered for its La Chapelle, the 1990 vintage was one of the Rhône’s finest, with fruit hailing from old vines in Les Bessards, Le Méal, and Les Rocoules. Decanter scored this cellar-worthy Hermitage 100 points for its vibrant fresh fruit, savory notes, dried florals, and firm tannins.
One of Rhône Valley’s most acclaimed producers, Domaine Jean-Louis Chave boasts a winemaking heritage that dates to the 15th century. The house vinifies fruit from its prestigious Hermitage parcels separately to tease out unique identity and bottles wines unfiltered to further enhance terroir expression. Wine Advocate gave this Hermitage 100 points, citing its dark fruit freshness (despite a hot vintage), floral hints, balanced bigness, and endless peppery finish.
Maison M. Chapoutier is a leading Rhône Valley producer, famous for its Hermitage wines – and its larger-than-life proprietor! On taking the helm in 1988, Michel Chapoutier championed biodynamic farming and minimal intervention and led the way with braille labels. Ermite is intensely lively with lemon, fig, almond, and rich stone fruit, all underpinned by a vibrant mineral streak. Its magnificence earned it a perfect score from Robert Parker.
Guigal (also known as E. Guigal) is celebrated for its top-tier wines from across the Rhone Valley and the quality and collectability of its range. Its classic Ex Voto Hermitage is a precise, terroir-reflective wine made from fruit sourced in the AOC’s top lieux-dits. Only made in outstanding vintages and benefiting from extended aging in new French oak, this bold, opulent Hermitage features layers of plum and raspberry with violet tones, licorice, and crushed pebbles. A Wine Spectator 100-pointer.
Known mostly for its superlative red Hermitage, Paul Jaboulet Aîné’s La Chapelle Blanc is just as worthy for its levity, white peach, tangerine, and honey tones. A vibrant wash of minerality and excellent cellaring potential make this one of the appellation’s star white blends. It’s crafted entirely from fruit grown in the Mayson Blanche lieu-dit found at the top of Hermitage Hill, and matured in used demi-muids for nine months, imparting structure without overpowering flavors. Vinous gave this Hermitage Blanc 95 points.
A wine illustrating the single-vineyard approach on Hermitage Hill is this Bessards from Delas Frères (also simply referred to as Delas). Made since 1990 only in the best vintages and in very limited quantities, this graceful Hermitage displays candied fruit, black berries, florals, and olive against a background of pleasing smoky mineral notes. This cuvée is aged in French barriques for 18 months, adding to its power and age-worthiness. Wine Cellar Insider awarded this single-vineyard 99 points.
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