Description

This legendary wine is produced from 85% Marsanne, 15% Roussanne frommultiple plots on the famous l'hermitage hill.

Vineyard Location: Rocoules: A mid-slope site of clay and limestone dominated by white grapes, as reds sourced from this site would tend to have coarse tannins. Hermite: A monopole owned by the Chave family since 1984. Located at the very top of the Hermitage hill and has a range of soil types, including granite and loess. Péléat: Another monopole that lies adjacent to Rocoules. Stony, sandy soil provides wines that are firmer and more complex. Maison Blanche: A fairly large vineyard which lies above Rocoules. The soil is iron-rich clay with a top layer of fine loess.

Vinification: Fermentation 100% in oak barrel. Aged in barriques for 24 months.

Vinous 97

Bottled in September 2024, just two months before my visit, the 2022 L'Hermitage Blanc is brilliant. Prominent honeysuckle, lemon zest, ripe peach, cedar, quince and a hint of jasmine burst from the glass. The full-bodied 2022 seamlessly combines elevated flavor concentration with vibrant freshness on the palate, delivering a precise, impressive L'Hermitage Blanc. The refined finish is remarkably long and focused, enhanced by a nuanced phenolic grip. (NG)

Decanter 96

The plots of Péléat and Rocoules were a little richer than a typical year, with relatively low acidity, while Ermite had a honeysuckle florality and a little more flesh than usual. Rich, dense and mighty, it is the opposite in style to the fine, fresh 2021. Picking started on 23 August in 2022. A tasting of the different plots was instructive, but the wines had been moved from barrel to tank the day before, so the score is a guide only. (MW)

Wine Advocate 95

2022 was the earliest harvest in the estate's history. Jean-Louis Chave harvested the Roucoule and Péléat plots on August 23-24, while Maison Blanche and Ermite were picked on August 28. The 2022 Hermitage Blanc reveals a complex, ripe bouquet of almonds, white flowers, honey and spices mingled with baked orchard fruits. Full-bodied and concentrated, the palate is rich and dense with a suave texture, a multidimensional core of fruit framed by chalky dry extracts and a delicate, phenolic, gastronomic bitterness. Slightly austere at this stage, this gastronomic wine is built for the cellar. (YC)