Hermitage AOC

Infobox Wine Region
name = Hermitage AOC


official name = Hermitage
other name =
type = Appellation d'origine contrôlée
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country = France
part of = Northern Rhone
similar = Crozes-Hermitage, Cornas, Hermitage, Côte-Rôtie
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climate region = continental climate
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planted = convert|345|acre|km2
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grapes = Syrah, Marsanne, Roussanne
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Hermitage is a French wine "Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée" (AOC) in the northern Rhône wine region of France south of Lyon. It produces mostly red wine from the Syrah grape, however small quantities of white wine are also produced from Roussane and Marsanne grapes.

History

According to legend, the Knight Gaspard de Stérimberg returned home wounded in 1224 from the Albigensian Crusade and was given permission by the Queen of France to build a small refuge to recover in, where he remained living as a hermit ("ermite" in French). The chapel on top was built in honor of Saint Christopher and today is owned by the negociant Paul Jaboulet Âiné. Louis XIII made the wine a wine of the court after being offered a glass during a visit to the region in 1642. Louis XIV presented King Charles II of England with 200 casks of fine wine including examples from Hermitage, Champagne and Burgundy. The Romanovs also imported the wine. In the 19th century wines from Bordeaux were often blended with Hermitage wines or "hermitagé", and could fetch higher prices as a result. The appellation was established in its modern form in 1937. [Niels Lillelund: "Rhône-Vinene" JP Bøger - JP/Politikens Forlagshus A/S, 2004. ISBN 87-567-7140-1, p. 84-86]

Geography

The appellation fans out from the town of Tain l'Hermitage. The vines grow on the south west side of a steep granite hill facing the afternoon sun and can be divided into a number of smaller vineyards. These are "Les Bessards" to the west, "L'Hermite" and "La Chapelle" on the top of the mountain, and "Bessards", "Le Méal", "Les Greffieux" and "Murets" to the east. [Niels Lillelund: "Rhône-Vinene" JP Bøger - JP/Politikens Forlagshus A/S, 2004. ISBN 87-567-7140-1, p. 86-88] With convert|345|acre|km2 of vines, in soil composed greatly of granite and gravels, Hermitage produces 730,000 bottles of mostly red wines, annually.

Grape Varieties

Syrah is the primary red grape of Hermitage, mostly used on its own although the appellation rules do allow the addition of 15% or less of Marsanne and/or Roussanne grapes. Hermitage reds tend toward being very earthy, with aromas of leather, red berries, earth, and cocoa/coffee. Because of the high levels of tannin they are usually aged longer than American or Australian Syrahs and are often cellared up to 40 years.

Rich, dry white wines are also produced from a blend of Marsanne and Roussanne. These wines are also usually left to age, for up to 15 years. Vin de paille or "Straw Wine" is also produced in this region.

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