| According to legend a knight of the Albigensian Crusade,
Gaspard de Sterimberg laid down his sword and replaced it with
a plough towards the beginning of the 13th century. Deeply
saddened by the destruction of war in the name of religion,
he retreated to the mountain above the city of Tain to lead
a solitary life of prayer and to tend vines he had brought
back with him from the city of Syrah in Persia.
Although the hermit's chapel still stands on the 600 m hill
named Hermitage, the legend of the source of the Syrah grape
has been disproved. DNA sequencing has identified the parents
of the Syrah grape variety as the rustic French varieties
Mondeuse Blanche of the Savoie Region and Dreza of the Adeche
region, each on opposite sides of the Rhône river.
Approximately 130 ha of vines grow on reasonably steep south-facing
granite terraces in the Hermitage appellation. Red wines
are made from Syrah while the whites are made from Marsanne
and Roussanne. The red wines are typically deeply colored
and richly perfumed with ripe red fruit. These powerful,
well-structured wines have firm tannins and the best wines
from the more elevated vineyards can have the potential to
age for two decades or more.
Crozes-Hermitage surrounds Hermitage and is the northern
Rhône's largest appellation. Here, too the reds are
made from Syrah, although a small proportion of Marsanne
and Rousanne can be added during fermentation. The soils
of Crozes-Hermitage are richer than in Hermitage and the
wines are softer, fruitier, and usually best drunk somewhat
younger.
| Date Tasted |
Monday, June 21, 2004Score |
Tasting Note |
| 2002 Caves des Papes - Les Brunelles -
Crozes Hermitage (750 ml) |
| Monday, June 21, 2004 |
86 |
This wine is dark ruby red with violet
reflections. The nose is discreet and flowery with heather,
tarragon, and vanilla, but there is a suspicious wiff
of overripe and rotting dark berries. On the palate the
few tannins are tight, but the alcohol is overbearing
and overripe berries surface increasingly. This wine
will benefit from a little more bottle aging, but will
never evolve to more than a good everyday wine. Drink.
2007-1012. |
| 2000 Caves des Papes - Oratorio - Crozes
Hermitage (750 ml) |
| Monday, June 21, 2004 |
88 |
This medium ruby colored wine has a discreet
flowery nose with red and black forest berries. The palate
is medium to full-bodied with a stingy mouthfeel. Firm,
nicely structured medium tannin content seems just a
bit meager opposed the high alcohol content. Flavors
of tarragon, minerals (iron), moss, and sweet dark berries
carry through on a medium long finish. Drink 2006-2012. |
| 2001 Cave de Tain l' Hermitage - Nobles
Rives - Crozes Hermitage (750 ml) |
| Monday, June 21, 2004 |
86 |
This medium cherry red wine has sweaty
saddle, savory, smoke, and vanilla on the nose. The wine
is dry with rather sharp acidity. Hints of licorice and
black tea can be found in red berry fruit. The body is
medium, as are the tannins which are astringent and somewhat
green. Drink now to 2010. |
| 2001 Cave de Tain l' Hermitage - Les Hauts
du Fief - Crozes Hermitage (750 ml) |
| Monday, June 21, 2004 |
87 |
Medium ruby red. Pronounced vanilla aroma,
with light animal tones in background. Heather. Medium
bodied, balanced but perky acidity. acidity, high alcohol,
soft tannins. Red berry fruit, Drink now to 2010. |
| 2000 Chapoutier, M. - La Sizeranne - Hermitage
(750 ml) |
| Monday, June 21, 2004 |
92 |
This dark dense ruby wine shows no violet
hues. The nose is deep and complex with hung game, leather,
ripe blackberries, and spice. The palate is full-bodied,
abundant velvety tannins. Complex and layered flavors
of garrique, tar and licorice linger long with a mineral-iron
finish. Drink 2006 to 2016. |
| 2000 Caves des Papes - Les Echalas - Hermitage
(750 ml) |
| Monday, June 21, 2004 |
88 |
This medium ruby-violet wine has pronounced
vanilla tones obscuring the scent of red berries and
deciduous forest after a spring rain. The palate is light
bodied and fruity with little yet firm tannin. The finish
lingers with red berry fruit, garden herbs, and vanilla.
Drink now to 2012. |
| 2000 Caves des Papes - Oratorio - Hermitage
(750 ml) |
| Monday, June 21, 2004 |
88 |
This dark dense ruby wine has a pronounced
gingerbread nose with blackberry marmelade and chrry
liqueur. The tannins are still young and together with
the perky acidity are currently astringent, but firm
and should soften and sweeten with some bottle aging.
Drink 2008 to 2015. |
| 2001 Cave de Tain l' Hermitage - Gambert
de Loche - Hermitage (750 ml) |
| Monday, June 21, 2004 |
92 |
This dense ruby wine has a youthful violet
rim. The nose displays dark berry fruit with toasty,
oak aromas mingeling with leather and spice. Layers of
sweet ripe blackberries and blueberries, tar, heather,
and vanilla are supported by firm, well structured tannins.
Minerals and peppery spice join in on the long lingering
finish. This wine will continue to improve and develop
over the next years; best drunk between 2007 and 2020. |
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