Hermitage 2019: Report and top scoring wines
While there are some Hermitage wines that did not make the grade in 2019, Matt Walls says the best are statuesque and thunderous that will live for decades.
‘We would have called this a great vintage in the 1980s, but now we fear the climate,’ says Jean-Louis Chave. This is certainly an opulent, rich, potent vintage, that brings to mind the climatic extremes that birthed it.
Scroll down to see Matt’s top Hermitage 2019 tasting notes and scores
But if any appellation can generate the concentration, intensity and structure required to balance the excesses provoked by the 2019 growing season, it’s Hermitage.
Not all the 2019s are a success – some growers picked too late, resulting in unbalanced wines – but the best are statuesque, thunderous wines that will live for decades. Maxime Chapoutier compares the 2019 vintage to the 2015.
It might be hot, but it bears no comparison to the 2003.
This may be a vintage for reds, but the white Hermitage is surprisingly good too, rich and opulent with low acidity, even for Hermitage. The best find a sense of balance through their concentration and intensity.
Quick links Northern Rhone
Individual appellation analysis and top-scoring wines:
Key producers in 2019
Delas Frères
E. Guigal
Ferraton Père et Fils
Domaine J.L. Chave
Domaine Laurent Fayolle
M. Chapoutier
Domaine Yann Chave
Value picks
Domaine du Colombier Hermitage rouge 2019
Ferraton Père et Fils Hermitage rouge ‘Les Miaux’ 2019
Cave de Tain Hermitage blanc 2019
See Matt’s top Hermitage 2019 tasting notes and scores
See also
Rhône 2019 En Primeur: Full report plus top scoring winesNorthern Rhône 2019 report plus top scoring winesSouthern Rhône 2019 report plus top scoring wines
M Chapoutier, L'Ermite, Hermitage, Rhône, France, 2019
Driving sparky freshness, it seems to explode from the glass. This smells somehow salty, mineral, very intense, so straight and energetic with a thrilling tension....
2019
M ChapoutierHermitage
Delas Frères, Les Bessards, Hermitage, Rhône, France, 2019
Remarkable tannic finesse is immediately apparent, teamed with great freshness, good acidity and deep concentration.There is a great sense of focus and direction and this...
2019
Delas FrèresHermitage
M Chapoutier, Le Pavillon, Hermitage, Rhône, France, 2019
This has the silky, flowing, thoroughbred style of Le Pavillon - incredible tannic finesse, but so big and shot through with ripe tannin. The alcohol...
2019
M ChapoutierHermitage
E Guigal, Ex-Voto, Hermitage, Rhône, France, 2019
A dense, aromatically imposing wine despite the fact it's fairly closed at this early stage, giving little away. Very full-bodied indeed, full of fat and...
2019
E GuigalHermitage
M Chapoutier, L'Ermite, Hermitage, Rhône, France, 2019
Very opulent for L’Ermite with a lower acidity than normal. The granitic freshness really helps in this vintage and you can somehow smell the saltiness....
2019
M ChapoutierHermitage
Domaine JL Chave, Hermitage, Rhône, France, 2019
A tasting of barrel samples of different lieux-dits: Péléat, Beaumes, Ermite, Le Méal, Bessards. Long, slow fermentations due to the high potential alcohols this year,...
2019
Domaine JL ChaveHermitage
Ferraton Père & Fils, Le Méal, Hermitage, Rhône, France, 2019
This is very much keeping its aromas to itself for now. On the palate it is smooth, silky, full-bodied and dense. This has great driving...
2019
Ferraton Père & FilsHermitage
M Chapoutier, Le Méal, Hermitage, Rhône, France, 2019
There's a gently resinous aspect to the savoury blackberry fruit alongside menthol and blackcurrant bush. A very powerful, muscular year, this has a huge tannic...
2019
M ChapoutierHermitage
E Guigal, Ex-Voto, Hermitage, Rhône, France, 2019
The fruit does just about match the oak this year. This has the rounded, muscular form of Hermitage, with very bright, ripe berry fruit, gently...
2019
E GuigalHermitage
Cave de Tain, Au Coeur des Siècles, Hermitage, Rhône, France, 2019
Honey, preserved lemon, and lanolin on the nose. The palate is layered with hazelnuts, juicy tropical fruit and vanilla. The finish feels endless, with lifted...
2019
Cave de TainHermitage
Domaine JL Chave, Hermitage, Rhône, France, 2019
A tasting of barrel samples of different lieux-dits: Les Rocoules, Péléat and Ermite paint a picture of an exceptionally rich and opulent white Hermitage, with...
2019
Domaine JL ChaveHermitage
Ferraton Père & Fils, Le Reverdy, Hermitage, Rhône, France, 2019
A little buttered popcorn on the nose from the oak, over the pear and yellow plum fruit. There's some ingrained vanilla too. Full-bodied, rounded and...
2019
Ferraton Père & FilsHermitage
M Chapoutier, Le Méal Blanc, Hermitage, Rhône, France, 2019
A rich and textural style with a gently smoky element running through it. Fresher than de l'Orée this year, but still massively rich and concentrated...
2019
M ChapoutierHermitage
Delas Frères, Ligne de Crete, Hermitage, Rhône, France, 2019
Plum, damson and blackberry coulis. Dense fruit, very fine tannins and a seamless texture. The alcohol here is quite high, but it's a very impressive...
2019
Delas FrèresHermitage
Domaine du Colombier, Hermitage, Rhône, France, 2019
Curious nose - menthol, hay, plum and iodine, but mainly dense black fruit coulis. Fresh, palate-coating fruit and thick tannin base with a smoky hint...
2019
Domaine du ColombierHermitage
Domaine Yann Chave, Hermitage, Rhône, France, 2019
Glass-staining purple colour. Incredibly powerful with searching perfume, leaf tea and glove leather behind the intense black fruits. Very fine and deep, perhaps just a...
2019
Domaine Yann ChaveHermitage
Ferraton Père & Fils, Les Dionnières, Hermitage, Rhône, France, 2019
Some tangy berry coulis can be coaxed out with air, but it's very closed for now. Very dense with fine tannins. Huge power and concentration,...
2019
Ferraton Père & FilsHermitage
Jean-Claude & Nicolas Fayolle, Les Dionnières, Hermitage, Rhône, France, 2019
Full-bodied, full of fruit, very concentrated. The tannins are quite massive, this will take time to come round. But the fruit is concentrated, sweet and...
2019
Jean-Claude & Nicolas FayolleHermitage
M Chapoutier, Les Greffieux, Hermitage, Rhône, France, 2019
A distinct smoky vein running through this year. Powerful, very ripe, muscular but juicy with great freshness and power. The alcohol is slightly raised, but...
2019
M ChapoutierHermitage
Cave de Tain, Hermitage, Rhône, France, 2019
Poached pear on the nose, with depth of fruit, freshness and intensity on the palate. This is a little keener and more energetic than most...
2019
Cave de TainHermitage
Fayolle Fils & Fille, Les Diognières, Hermitage, Rhône, France, 2019
A fresh, lifted, intense nose with star anise, incense, and clove among the black fruits. Very powerful but not massively full-bodied, the alcohol however is...
2019
Fayolle Fils & FilleHermitage
Delas Frères, Domaine des Tourettes, Hermitage, Rhône, France, 2019
A fresh, fine, direct fragrance - quince, pear and plum. Very rounded and generous on the palate, a little on the fat side. This has...
2019
Delas FrèresHermitage
Domaine Marc Sorrel, Le Gréal, Hermitage, Rhône, France, 2019
A rich, full-bodied style. Velvety tannins, there's more fruit here than in their cuvée classique with finer tannins and a long finish. . Good balance...
2019
Domaine Marc SorrelHermitage
Ferraton Père & Fils, Les Miaux, Hermitage, Rhône, France, 2019
An inky, deep concoction of damson, sloe and raspberry, with lifted, high-toned cinnamon spice. Good sense of freshness and liveliness to the aromatics, a little...
2019
Ferraton Père & FilsHermitage
Fayolle Fils & Fille, Les Diognières, Hermitage, Rhône, France, 2019
Relatively pale for a white Hermitage. Plenty of interest on the nose: fresh pear, a touch of vanilla pod and white flowers. Full-bodied but only...
2019
Fayolle Fils & FilleHermitage
