Along with Bordeaux and Burgundy, Rhône Valley wines are acknowledged to be among the best in the world. Situated in the Rhône River Valley in the south of France, the Rhône is comprised of two distinct regions—the north and south—each with its own viniculture and featuring wines of very different character.
The Northern Rhône (referred to in French as Rhône septentrional) produces powerful, aromatically complex and age worthy red wines, often in very limited numbers, from the dignified Syrah grape. Typically, most red wines in the northern zone have had an alcohol content in the common 12% to 13% range, but warmer-than-normal growing seasons (like in 1997, 1999, and 2003 in particular), have brought significantly richer, more powerful, and higher alcoholic content varieties.
The Southern Rhône (or Rhône méridional) yields more than 90% of the valley’s total production. A multitude of markedly more rustic and often richer blends coming from the high-alcohol Grenache grape can be identified by a more “southern” flavor. The wines offer a rich mouth feel, and more of a roasted and somewhat liqueur-ish fruit personality with spice and wild herb accents.
In the Northern Rhône Valley the apotheosis of Viognier, an exotically scented white wine, is also grown. Viognier is a variety that has been recently planted on several continents by growers hoping to capitalize on a strong worldwide demand. There are other white wines from the Rhône Valley (albeit less exciting than Viognier). The majority of these are blends based on Marsanne and Roussanne in the North, and Grenache Blanc and less interesting native varieties in the South.
jebdunnuck.com, 100 points: (98-100) Leading off the three single vineyard whites, the 2016 Ermitage Cuvée De L’Orée is a huge, unctuous white that delivers the goods. Orange marmalade, buttered citrus, honeycomb and brioche all soar from the glass...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 92 points: Interesting and ageworthy is the Hermitage Chevalier de Sterimberg, a blend of 50% Roussanne and 50% Marsanne, that is encouraged to go through malolactic fermentation. The fat 1998 Hermitage Chevalier de Sterimberg...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 91 points: Year in and year out, Jaboulet’s top white is the Hermitage Chevalier de Sterimberg, which is aged in new oak for nine months prior to bottling. The 2001 (a blend of 35% Roussanne and 65% Marsanne) exhibits aromas of ripe...
jebdunnuck.com, 99 points: (97-99) Like the de Cuvée de L’Orée, only even richer, with huge buttered citrus, crushed rock, and orange blossom aromatics, the 2016 Ermitage Le Méal Blanc hits the palate with red wine-like structure and tannin...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 99 points: A wine that tastes akin to liquid rocks as well as white currants and quince is the light golden 2004 Ermitage Cuvee de l’Oree. This is a fabulous wine, with blockbuster intensity and richness. This is the kind of wine...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 100 points: Leading off three single-vintage whites from Hermitage, the stunning 2013 Ermitage Cuvee de L’Orée has an off-the-hook bouquet that includes just about everything you could think of when considering Hermitage Blanc. White...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 98 points: Of the three sélection parcellaire whites, the 2015 Ermitage de l’Orée is the most fresh and lively, with full-bodied richness and depth in its pineapple, mint, tropical fruits, toasted bread, brioche and liquid...
jebdunnuck.com, 100 points: (98-100 points) Lastly, the 2016 Ermitage L’Ermite Blanc is a barrel sample that has perfection written all over it. Always the most mineral-driven, with a liqueur of rocks-like character in its citrus oil, floral, quince...
jebdunnuck.com, 100 points: (98-100) Lastly, the 2016 Ermitage L’Ermite Blanc is a barrel sample that has perfection written all over it. Always the most mineral-driven, with a liqueur of rocks-like character in its citrus oil, floral, quince and...
jebdunnuck.com, 96 points: (94-96) One of my favorite whites in the world is the Les Granites Blanc from Chapoutier, and the 2016 Saint Joseph Les Granits Blanc is no exception. Scheduled to be bottled just after my tasting, it's a sensationally...
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