L’Ermite, Rouge Ermitage 2017

“Ripe and dense, yet racy and defined in feel, with a stream of cherry, blackberry and cassis notes underscored by singed alder and iron accents. Lovely floral details run throughout before coalescing on the finish. Best from 2023 through 2038.”
– James Molesworth

APPEARANCE: Very deep garnet red, almost black

NOSE: Black fruits with spices and ink overtones 

PALATE: Tannins are both powerful and velvety. Smoky and pepper overtones express the Syrah variety on granitic soil, wonderfully.  

APPELLATION: Ermitage

VARIETAL: 100% Syrah

TERROIR: Situated at the top of the Hermitage hill, around the chapel, in a place named the Ermite. The vines are 80 years old and are on granitic soils which are very poor.

VINIFICATION: Late hand-harvesting in order to obtain optimal alcohol content. The harvest which is 100% destemmed, is matured in concrete tanks. Fermentation lasts around 4 weeks, to obtain soft and stable tannins to keep the wine for a very long time. The temperature does not exceed 32°C to enable good quality extraction. To make this wine, only the free-run juice is used.

Alcohol: 14.5%

Aging: Free run juice is immediately transferred into new and one- year-old casks to be matured from 18 to 20 months. According to the vintage, the wine can be kept from 30-60 years, indead from 50-70 years. 

Gastronomy: Pairs well with beef, game and all cheeses