Description
The history of Ermitage is very old and according to a number of books it goes back to the Romans. The local legend relates the story of an 13th century knight who, returning from a crusade, built a chapel at the top of a hill and lived there like a hermit, hence the name Ermitage. Returning from a trip to Ermitage in 1787, Thomas Jefferson, the American Ambassador in France, declared his admiration for this white wine “the best wine in the world, with no equal”. His comments on the red wines were just as praising “Full-bodied, dark purple with exquisite flavours…”.
Terroir
The terroir is complex and varied with granite in parts but also rolled pebbles and calcareous soils. The wines produced in the locality of “Grandes Vignes” where the soils are dominated by granite, have a great minerality but also a nice tannin structure. This area represents 30% of our blend. The wines that we produce on the rolled pebbles (locality of “Greffieux”) are aromatically rich and complex. They correspond to the backbone of our wine and represent 60% of the blend.
Finally the calcareous soil in the locality of “Muret” brings elegance and finesse to the wine.
These 3 terroirs are very complementary and they each bring a different element to the final blend.
The vintage
After a very dry winter and beginning of spring, Mai and June were rainy and sunny at the time, which was beneficial to the vine. On the edge of summer, we were in advance but an intense heat wave blocked the maturities. These conditions needed an exceptional effort in the vines to prevent illnesses and to get the grapes into a very satisfying sanitary state. The harvest started in middle of September. We noticed differences in the maturities depending on the areas, which led to continuing the picking until the first days of October. The yields were also quite different depending on the appellation and parcels.
Location
Prestigious hill overlooking the Rhône river and the little village of Tain l’Hermitage. Located on the left bank of the Rhône, the vineyard is south facing and sheltered from the cold northern winds.
Process
The grapes are cold-macerated before being fermented for 28 days with pumping-over at the beginning followed by punching-down towards the end.
Ageing in new oak (30%) and in steel (70%) for 15 months.
Varietal
Syrah : 100%
Tasting
The colour is not as intense as in 2007.
The nose is very rich on notes of black and red fruit. The nose then turns more complex and intense.
In the mouth the tannins appear quite powerful and need to be left to soften a bit.
Serving
On his youth, this wine develops nice and powerful fruits aromas, which can be paired with red meat.
In few years, mushrooms and undergrowth secondary aromas, will match perfectly with games
Reviews
"If you see an AOC Hermitage wine without the "H", local tradition dictates you're getting a wine with ambition. An great example of Jaboulet-Perrin: food-friendly and fruit-forward with the steeliness and grace of the northern Rhone. Just 10 per cent new oak, this is aromatic with blueberry spice."
South China Morning Post, Jane Anson
95/100
"La robe est grenat aux reflets noirs. Le bouquet est corsé. Les épices noires et les herbes de Provence y nappent de la viande grillée. L'attaque est veloutée, dense Les tannins masculins contiennent du cassis et du réglisse. La rétro-olfaction est matinée de fleurs des champs, de terre sechée et de feuilles mortes. En finale, myrtilles, mûres et menthol possèdent longueur et amplitude. Beaucoup d'autorité dans ce vin plein de maîtrise."
Le Magazine du Vin - 2015
92/100
"Velvety and caressing in feel, with alluring black tea and warm fruitcake aromas giving way to supple blackberry, plum and raspberry confiture flavors. Pretty, subtle anise notes underscore the finish."
Wine Spectator, James Molesworth - 2015
91/100
"Inky purple. Heady, exotically perfumed scents of dark berry compote, cherry-cola, incense and dried flowers. Sappy, penetrating red and dark berry flavors show impressive depth, with star anise and candied violet accents providing complexity. Finishes sweet, vibrant and long, with resonating spiciness and a sneaky note of apricot."
International Wine Cellar - 2012