For centuries some of the most sought after wine in France has come from Hermitage in the northern Rhone. Even Thomas Jefferson, a noted wine expert of his day, raved about the wine from this region. The granite hills of Hermitage rise above the Rhone at Tain l'Hermitage where the river bends sharply to the east before resuming a southward flow. This gives the vineyards a direct southern exposure.

            Vines have been grown here since Roman times, and Pliney wrote favorably about the wines of the region. The locals claim that vines were first planted here by Phocaean Greeks around 500 BC. Although the evidence is not conclusive, Greek coins and amphorae dating back to 500 BC have been found in the area. Some experts feel that the greatest contemporary maker of Hermitage is the firm of Jean-Louis Chave. The Chave family has been growing grapes at Hermitage since 1481. They have a reputation for making good wine in poor years, and excellent wine in good ones. They use low yielding vines (average age 60 years) and a late harvest to produce the ripest fruit, and there is virtually no intervention in the winemaking and bottling with no filtration. There are a dozen or so named vineyards in Hermitage, and Chave owns vines in most of them. They vinify each separately, which allows them to blend for greater complexity before bottling.

            As 2007 was one of the best ever vintages in the southern Rhône, 2009 has proven to be its equal along the banks of the northern Rhône River valley, if Chave's wines from Hermitage are any indication. Robert Parker scored the red a perfect 100 points, and the white a not-far-behind 99 points, one of the most prodigious whites ever from this appellation.

: "The greatest wines Chave has produced since 2003 are the two cuvees of 2009 Hermitage. The 2009 Hermitage exhibits a black/purple color along with a sumptuous nose of roasted meats, ground pepper, black currants, blackberry jam, and subtle smoke and licorice. The extraordinary bouquet is followed by a wine of extravagant intensity as well as tremendous focus and precision. While not as powerful as the blockbuster 2003, the amazing 2009 may turn out to be a modern day version of their magnificent 1990 (which is drinking incredibly well at present). Anyone who loves Hermitage and has a cold cellar should be lining up to get a few bottles of this beauty."

            2009 J. L. Chave Hermitage blanc ($344.99/bottle), Robert Parker 99 points: "The bottled 2009 Hermitage Blanc is one of the greatest whites ever made chez Chave, and that's saying something given Chave's track record. This spectacular wine, normally a blend of 80% Marsanne and 20% Roussanne, exhibits layers of concentration, superb acidity and minerality, laser-like focus, and plenty of quince, white currant, citrus oil, honeysuckle, anise, white peach and apricot marmalade notes. This significant, full-bodied, dry white Hermitage should age for 30-50 years. However, given the vintage's flamboyance, it will be drinkable early in life."

            We have a few bottles coming in around June 20, so let us know if you'd like some of either or both wines. Would make a nice Father's Day present! Think these are expensive? Well, they are, but what do you expect from wines with these ratings? If it makes you feel any better (and to reinforce our claim to offer the best wines at reasonable prices), the lowest price listed for the red on Wine-Searcher is $550. Buy more and save more at Erick's!

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