Ermitage wines possess a rich historical past. They were appreciated in Roman times when they and Cote Rotie wines were enjoyed under the name of "Vienne wines".

The name of Ermitage probably first appeared in the 17th Century in memory of Henry Gaspard, a knight from Sterimberg who, having come back from the Crusades (in the 13th Century) and tired of waging war, lived as a hermit on a hillside which had been given to him by Anne of Castille, Queen of Spain. There he planted a vineyard.

The L’Ermite vineyard is situated at the top of the Hermitage hill, around the chapel, in a place named the Ermite. The vines are 80 years old planted in granitic soils which are very poor.

The color of the wine is a very deep garnet red, almost black. On the nose are black fruits with spices and ink overtones. The tannins are at the same time powerful and velvety. Smoky and pepper overtones are wonderful expressions of Syrah from granitic soil. Depending on the vintage, the wine can be kept from 30 to 60 years or from 50 to 75 years.

M. Chapoutier’s Ermitage “L’Ermite” 2013 is the estate’s flagship single-parcel Syrah from the granite slopes of Hermitage in the Northern Rhône, made under the house’s Demeter-certified biodynamic program. It’s a serious, site-driven wine built around mineral intensity and structure rather than early charm. Winemaking details cited by Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate include that the wine was “completely destemmed and raised in a scant 30% new French oak,” aiming for power without heavy wood signature.

Critical reception is outstanding across the board, led by an excellent 98-point review from James Suckling, who calls it “strikingly complex,” highlighting berries, black pepper, smoke, grilled meat, dried herbs and spice, and noting “fine tannins and bright acidity” with a “mineral backbone” that “turns vertical with its firm and massively mineral tannins.” Suckling adds that it is “delicious but will continue to age beautifully for the next decade.”

Wine Spectator also rated it an excellent 97 points, describing a “sleek” profile where “mouthwatering red currant, raspberry and cherry preserve flavors” meet “a dusting of cocoa,” “a snap of red licorice,” and a “long, lingering iron spine,” concluding that “the minerality wins out in the end.” Their suggested drinking window runs “from 2019 through 2032.”

Jeb Dunnuck (Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate) scored it 96+ and emphasizes its reserved posture: “more backwards, tight and structured,” with “incredibly mineral-laced notes of charcoal, liquid rock, cassis, black currants and graphite,” plus “ripe tannin and incredible persistence.” He advises, “Hide these in the cellar for a decade.” Dunnuck later reiterated the style on his own site (96+), citing “tannins and acidity galore” and forecasting longevity of “30+ years in cold cellars.”

Vinous (94 points) finds it “elegant,” “medium-bodied and refreshing,” with “grippy tannins” and “spot-on balance,” calling it “a classic L’Ermite” that clearly reflects “a cooler vintage.”