This south-west facing hill of granite has been the source of many Rhône legends, starting with its name.
Chapel on the Hill
According to legend, the Knight Gaspard de Sterimberg returned home wounded in 1224 from the Albigensian Crusade and was permitted by the Queen of France to build a small refuge to recover in, where he remained living as a hermit. He then endeavoured to replant vines on this steep south-facing hill of granite towering above the Rhône, building a chapel in honour of Saint Christopher at its top and soon joined by others.
In retrospect, wines grown on the hill have been famous for so long they were mentioned centuries before vines were even grown in the Médoc, tracing back to the Romans and served to kings around Europe in the 17th century. By the 18th century, Bordeaux would often be bolstered by a shot of Hermitage.
Paul Jaboulet Ainé – the Renaissance
Created in 1834 on these steep hills by a passionate family, this estate has always embodied the quintessence of the great wines of the Northern Rhône Valley and remains one of the biggest owners of Hermitage vineyards with 22ha. The Jaboulet business was always deeply rooted in family, tireless promoters of the greatness of the Rhône and Hermitage in particular.
A series of unfortunate accidents and premature deaths halted its dynamism in the late 1990s, after which the Maison was taken over by the Frey family in 2006, noteworthy owners of Château La Lagune in Bordeaux. In the hands of the talented and passionate winemaker Caroline Frey, the Domaine has undergone a renaissance ever since, true to its former glory and quest for perfection in the implementation of biodynamic practices.
Hermitage la Chapelle – wine legend
Jaboulet’s worldwide recognition came through with Hermitage La Chapelle 1961: a perfect wine, melding power with elegance, which became a legend and ranked among the 12 greatest wines of the 20th century; so sought after that it triggered record prices at auctions. Today, under the guidance of Caroline Frey, the wines have returned to their prestige and crafting age-worthy wines at their prime.
The Hermitage reds reveal both intensity and finesse. Slow to mature, very deep in colour, magnificent and hauntingly savoury through hints of spice and dark fruits, it embodies the quintessential Syrah. A good Hermitage is always superb and often requires patience becoming more elegant over 15 to 20 years.
The white wines, predominantly Marsanne, reveal floral notes and a touch of vanilla and roasted nuts. They are known for their beautiful yellow colour and can be stored in your wine cellar for decades.
