Hermitage 2021: report and top-scoring wines
Matt Walls assesses the quality of Hermitage wines from the 2021 vintage. Read on for his thoughts on the reds and whites from this famous hill.
Hermitage was mercifully spared by the frost in 2021, however with elevated rainfall dilution was still a major issue.
‘It was the great terroirs that made good wines in 2021,’ said Jean-Louis Chave of Domaine JL Chave, ‘you needed slopes and old vines.’ This helped to avoid dilution, because rain runs off the slopes.
Scroll down to see tasting notes and scores for top-scoring Hermitage 2021 wines
See all 400 Rhône 2021 tasting notes and scores
See the Rhône 2021 full vintage report and top scoring wines
Some of the best terroirs did produce very good wines in 2021, particularly the granite lieux-dits, in a tense, athletic style. But these are the exceptions; generally speaking, this is a mediocre vintage for Hermitage at best – too many wines lack the might and majesty that sets Hermitage apart.
Individual appellation analysis on:
Côte-Rôtie and Condrieu | St-Joseph | Cornas and St-Péray | Crozes-Hermitage
White Hermitage is another story. This is a brisk, medium-bodied vintage for white Hermitage, not as concentrated or powerful as 2019 and 2020, but one that will drink well young and age into the medium term at least, thanks to its energetic acidity and sustaining minerality.
Clément Bärtschi, cellarmaster at M Chapoutier, described it as resembling something between 2014 and 2001 in style – high praise.
Rhône 2021 score tables:
All top Rhône 2021 score table
Top-scoring southern Rhône 2021 score table
Top-scoring northern Rhône 2021 score table
Hermitage 2021 key producers:
M Chapoutier
Domaine JL Chave
Domaine Marc Sorrel
Hermitage 2021 top value wines:
Cave de Tain, Au Coeur des Siècles Blanc
Domaine du Colombier, Blanc
Domaine Laurent Fayolle, Les Diognières Blanc
Matt Walls’ top-scoring Hermitage 2021 wines:
The wines below all scored 93 points or above, and are listed white then red in score order.
Related content:
Rhône 2021 en primeur: full vintage report and top-scoring wines
Southern Rhône 2021: full report and top-scoring wines
Walls: Get to know the 20 lieux-dits of Hermitage
M Chapoutier, L'Ermite, Hermitage, Rhône, France, 2021
Piercing intensity on the nose, there's mango, candied citrus peels and salt. Only medium-bodied, but it's an athletic, precise and hugely energetic Ermite, with really...
2021
M ChapoutierHermitage
M Chapoutier, Le Méal Blanc, Hermitage, Rhône, France, 2021
Fresh pear and a touch of honey add to what is already a full-bodied, powerful expression on the palate, really intense and driving with plenty...
2021
M ChapoutierHermitage
Domaine JL Chave, Hermitage, Rhône, France, 2021
A tasting of the constituent lieux-dits before blending shows a white Hermitage that is about tension, freshness and minerality. It's zesty and crisp, with good...
2021
Domaine JL ChaveHermitage
Domaine Marc Sorrel, Les Rocoules, Hermitage, Rhône, France, 2021
Deep honey, mango, honeysuckle indicate great presence on the nose, if not strongly aromatic at this stage. But it’s full-bodied and rich, tempered by good...
2021
Domaine Marc SorrelHermitage
M Chapoutier, De l'Orée, Hermitage, Rhône, France, 2021
Mango and rhubarb notes hint at a rich and full-bodied wine, which is quite a classic De l'Orée style, though not quite as rich and...
2021
M ChapoutierHermitage
Delas, Domaine des Tourettes, Hermitage, Rhône, France, 2021
This has quite noticeable oak, and is full-bodied and rich on the palate. It’s really quite oily and mouthcoating, with deep-set but balanced acidity on...
2021
DelasHermitage
Domaine Laurent Fayolle, Les Diognières, Hermitage, Rhône, France, 2021
Expressive peach compote and subtle tobacco notes. Warm spice and vanilla pastry, with abundant fleshy stone fruit and well-integrated oak on the palate. Saline and...
2021
Domaine Laurent FayolleHermitage
Domaine Marc Sorrel, Hermitage, Rhône, France, 2021
Classic Hermitage weight, density and richness on the palate, with lovely acidity and a remarkably mineral expression. The long finish is surprisingly potent. Unusually this...
2021
Domaine Marc SorrelHermitage
Cave de Tain, Au Coeur des Siècles, Hermitage, Rhône, France, 2021
Not terribly expressive on the nose at the time of tasting, and broad and fat on the palate. Not the most vibrant, perhaps, but there’s...
2021
Cave de TainHermitage
Domaine du Colombier, Hermitage, Rhône, France, 2021
A relatively rich white Hermitage that’s full-bodied and weighty, with lemon curd, lemon verbena and lemon zest touches on the nose and palate. Good acidity...
2021
Domaine du ColombierHermitage
Domaine Philippe & Vincent Jaboulet, Hermitage, Rhône, France, 2021
Heather honey and pear on the nose, it's relatively rich and full-bodied, with lower acidity than most this year. Enjoyably luxurious but not overly fat...
2021
Domaine Philippe & Vincent JabouletHermitage
M Chapoutier, L'Ermite, Hermitage, Rhône, France, 2021
A fresh, piercing cassis style, that’s very fine and compact on the palate. Powerfully mineral, the wine really dives deep. The tannins are juicy but...
2021
M ChapoutierHermitage
M Chapoutier, Le Pavillon, Hermitage, Rhône, France, 2021
Very classically Pavillon in its aromatic display, with hoisin sauce and some cassis and blackberry. Fine tannins, but this is not a huge vintage, a...
2021
M ChapoutierHermitage
Domaine JL Chave, Hermitage, Rhône, France, 2021
A tasting of the constituent lieux-dits before blending was as instructive as ever. Péléat was smooth, silky and red-fruited with good acidity; Beaumes slightly meatier,...
2021
Domaine JL ChaveHermitage
Domaine Marc Sorrel, Le Gréal, Hermitage, Rhône, France, 2021
A particularly fruity Gréal, much more open than usual at this stage. It has weight and presence and a seriously mineral edge. Less concentration and...
2021
Domaine Marc SorrelHermitage
M Chapoutier, Le Méal, Hermitage, Rhône, France, 2021
Very immediate and fruity in style and a touch balsamic. Quite sappy acidity -- really intense in fact. Fairly introverted at the time of tasting,...
2021
M ChapoutierHermitage
Domaine Marc Sorrel, Hermitage, Rhône, France, 2021
A fruity, pure, clean and surprisingly ripe expression here. There’s good ripeness on the palate, and it’s surprisingly potent, with intense, driving tannins. Relatively light...
2021
Domaine Marc SorrelHermitage
Delas, Domaine des Tourettes, Hermitage, Rhône, France, 2021
Some weight of fruit here underneath the measured clove oak. Smooth, ripe, with well-balanced acidity, this has a good sense of balance and elegance. Fresh,...
2021
DelasHermitage
