Hermitage Producers

Question 1

Where is Chave and when was it founded?

Answer 1

Mauves (St Joseph), 1481

Question 2

Chave: Hermitage Climats

Answer 2

Bessards: Syrah, Granite
l’Hermite: Syrah, Granite; Roussanne, Loess; Marsanne, Clay-Lime
Péléat: Syrah, Alluvials, Silex, Clay; Marsanne, Sand, Granite
Le Méal: Syrah, Alluvial, Granite
Rocoules: Marsanne and Roussane, Clay-Lime
Maison Blanche: Marsanne, Alluvials, Clay-Lime

Question 3

Chave: Other Vineyrds

Answer 3

Saint Joseph: Dardouilles, Les Oliviers, Pichonnier, Bachasson
Crozes: Gros des Vignes

Question 4

Chave: Hermitage Blend

Answer 4

Rouge: all seven climats; Bessardes is the heart
Blanc: 80-85% Marsanne, 15-20% Roussanne, Rocoules is the heart

Question 5

What is Cuvée Cathelin?

Answer 5

A barrel selection of Chave Hermitage, produced only in certain years, same elevage as the “basic” cuvee.

Question 6

Cuvée Cathelin vintages

Answer 6

1990, 1991, 1995, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2009, 2010

Question 7

Chave Vin de Paille vintages

Answer 7

1986, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1996, 1997, 2000

Publically revived in 1986; made in some vintages (1952. 1974, etc.) previously for home consumption.

Question 8

Chave: Vinification

Answer 8

Currently all destemmed for reds (since the 1980’s - before, not, and pre 1960 destemming was done by hand), whole cluster press for whites
Generally native yeasts
Mix of stainless and old open-top wood vats, generally punchdowns over pumpovers, little to no batonnage
Wines are vinified and aged separately by climat for 18mos before blending.
Aged in oak, from new to 5yo barrels, generally max 30% new (vintage dependent)
Some fining, no filtering.

Question 9

What is the single most legendary vintage of Jaboulet-Aine La Chapelle?

Answer 9

1961

Question 10

Who owns Jaboulet-Aine?

Answer 10

Jean-Jacques Frey, as of 2005 - Swiss financier and owner of La Lagune (stockholder in Billecart-Salmon and Ayala)

Question 11

Jaboulet-Aine: Vineyards

Answer 11

Le Méal (heart of the estate)
Les Bessards
La Croix
Rocoules
Diognières et Torras
Les Diognières
Les Grandes Vignes
Les Greffieux
Average vine age 35-45 years

Question 12

What is La Chapelle?

Answer 12

Jaboulet-Aine’s Hermitage, named for the chapel at the top of L’Hermite, purchased by Henri Jaboulet in 1929. Always a barrel selection, usually centered around Le Méal for the red, and Roucoules for the white (80/20 M/R)

Question 13

What is the second wine of Jaboulet-Aine?

Answer 13

Taurobole (formerly Pied de la Côte from 1990, last vintage 2001)
La Petite Chapelle is the second wine as of 2001.

Question 14

Has La Chapelle Blanc always been produced?

Answer 14

No, it was discontinued from 1963-2005.

Question 15

What is Chevalier de Sterimberg?

Answer 15

Hermitage blanc from Jaboulet-Aine, named for Gaspar de Sterimberg, the chevalier-crusader-turned-hermit of Hermitage.
65% Marsanne, 35% Roussanne.

Question 16

Chapoutier: Farming Philosophy

Answer 16

Biodynamic since 1995

Question 17

Chapoutier: Vineyards

Answer 17

Hermitage: Bessardes (granite), Méal (alluvial, chalk), L’Hermite (loess, limestone), Greffieux (alluvial, clay), Murets
Côte-Rôtie: Côte Blonde, Côte Brune

Question 18

What is Monier la Sizeranne

Answer 18

Chapoutier’s workhorse Hermitage Rouge

18-20mos in 33% new french

Question 19

Where does Chapoutier’s Ermitage Rouge Le Pavillon originate? First vintage?

Answer 19

Bessards

First vintage as a single vineyard wine 1989, but there was a multi-vintage cuvée prior, of wines 15-20 years old.

Question 20

Chapoutier single vineyards & inaugural vintages

Answer 20

RED
Le Méal, 1989
L'Hermite, 1996
Greffieux, 2001
WHITE
Le Méal, 1997
L'Hermite, 1999

Question 21

What is Blanc de l’Orée?

Answer 21

Chapoutier’s Hermitage Blanc from the oldest vines on Murets
First vintage as a single vineyard wine 1991, but there was a multi-vintage cuvée with this name prior, generally 5-6 vintages with an average age of 12 years old.

Question 22

What is Mure de Larnage?

Answer 22

Chapoutier’s young vines Ermitage, in both red and white

Question 23

What grape is Chapoutier famous for advocating?

Answer 23

Marsanne (especially old vine expressions)

Question 24

What is Chante Alouette?

Answer 24

Chapoutier’s workhorse Hermitage blanc, the equivalent of Monier la Sizeranne. Named for the Chante-Alouette climat within L’Hermite.

Question 25

Chapoutier Liqueurs

Answer 25

Marc vieux des Côtes du Rhône
Grande réserve fine des Côtes du Rhone
Fine 1966 (40 years in barrel)

Question 26

Three largest producers of Hermitage Vin de Paille

Answer 26

Chapoutier
Chave
Cave Co-operative de Tain