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
{"content":"PHA+U29tZSBvZiB0aGUgYmVzdCB0ZXJyb2lycyBkaWQgcHJvZHVjZSB2ZXJ5IGdvb2Qgd2luZXMgaW4gMjAyMSwgcGFydGljdWxhcmx5IHRoZSBncmFuaXRlIGxpZXV4LWRpdHMsIGluIGEgdGVuc2UsIGF0aGxldGljIHN0eWxlLiBCdXQgdGhlc2UgYXJlIHRoZSBleGNlcHRpb25zOyBnZW5lcmFsbHkgc3BlYWtpbmcsIHRoaXMgaXMgYSBtZWRpb2NyZSB2aW50YWdlIGZvciBIZXJtaXRhZ2UgYXQgYmVzdCDigJMgdG9vIG1hbnkgd2luZXMgbGFjayB0aGUgbWlnaHQgYW5kIG1hamVzdHkgdGhhdCBzZXRzIEhlcm1pdGFnZSBhcGFydC48L3A+Cjxocj4KPGgzIHN0eWxlPSJ0ZXh0LWFsaWduOiBjZW50ZXIiPkluZGl2aWR1YWwgYXBwZWxsYXRpb24gYW5hbHlzaXMgb246PC9oMz4KPHAgc3R5bGU9InRleHQtYWxpZ246IGNlbnRlciI+PHN0cm9uZz48YSBocmVmPSJodHRwczovL3d3dy5kZWNhbnRlci5jb20ubWFzdGVyLnB1YmxpYy5rZXlzdG9uZS1wcm9kLWVrcy1ldXcxLmZ1dHVyZXBsYy5lbmdpbmVlcmluZy5tYXN0ZXIucHVibGljLmtleXN0b25lLXByb2QtZWtzLWV1dzEuZnV0dXJlcGxjLmVuZ2luZWVyaW5nL3ByZW1pdW0vY290ZS1yb3RpZS1jb25kcmlldS0yMDIxLXJlcG9ydC1hbmQtdG9wLXNjb3Jpbmctd2luZXMtNDkyOTQ1LyI+Q8O0dGUtUsO0dGllIGFuZCBDb25kcmlldTwvYT4gfCA8YSBocmVmPSJodHRwczovL3d3dy5kZWNhbnRlci5jb20ubWFzdGVyLnB1YmxpYy5rZXlzdG9uZS1wcm9kLWVrcy1ldXcxLmZ1dHVyZXBsYy5lbmdpbmVlcmluZy5tYXN0ZXIucHVibGljLmtleXN0b25lLXByb2QtZWtzLWV1dzEuZnV0dXJlcGxjLmVuZ2luZWVyaW5nL3ByZW1pdW0vc3Qtam9zZXBoLTIwMjEtcmVwb3J0LWFuZC10b3Atc2NvcmluZy13aW5lcy00OTI5NDcvIj5TdC1Kb3NlcGg8L2E+IHwgPGEgaHJlZj0iaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZGVjYW50ZXIuY29tLm1hc3Rlci5wdWJsaWMua2V5c3RvbmUtcHJvZC1la3MtZXV3MS5mdXR1cmVwbGMuZW5naW5lZXJpbmcubWFzdGVyLnB1YmxpYy5rZXlzdG9uZS1wcm9kLWVrcy1ldXcxLmZ1dHVyZXBsYy5lbmdpbmVlcmluZy9wcmVtaXVtL2Nvcm5hcy1zdC1wZXJheS0yMDIxLXJlcG9ydC1hbmQtdG9wLXNjb3Jpbmctd2luZXMtNDkzNDczLyI+Q29ybmFzIGFuZCBTdC1Qw6lyYXk8L2E+IHwgPGEgaHJlZj0iaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZGVjYW50ZXIuY29tLm1hc3Rlci5wdWJsaWMua2V5c3RvbmUtcHJvZC1la3MtZXV3MS5mdXR1cmVwbGMuZW5naW5lZXJpbmcubWFzdGVyLnB1YmxpYy5rZXlzdG9uZS1wcm9kLWVrcy1ldXcxLmZ1dHVyZXBsYy5lbmdpbmVlcmluZy9wcmVtaXVtL2Nyb3plcy1oZXJtaXRhZ2UtMjAyMS1yZXBvcnQtYW5kLXRvcC1zY29yaW5nLXdpbmVzLTQ5Mjk1MC8iPkNyb3plcy1IZXJtaXRhZ2U8L2E+PC9zdHJvbmc+PC9wPgo8aHI+CjxwPldoaXRlIEhlcm1pdGFnZSBpcyBhbm90aGVyIHN0b3J5LiBUaGlzIGlzIGEgYnJpc2ssIG1lZGl1bS1ib2RpZWQgdmludGFnZSBmb3Igd2hpdGUgSGVybWl0YWdlLCBub3QgYXMgY29uY2VudHJhdGVkIG9yIHBvd2VyZnVsIGFzIDIwMTkgYW5kIDIwMjAsIGJ1dCBvbmUgdGhhdCB3aWxsIGRyaW5rIHdlbGwgeW91bmcgYW5kIGFnZSBpbnRvIHRoZSBtZWRpdW0gdGVybSBhdCBsZWFzdCwgdGhhbmtzIHRvIGl0cyBlbmVyZ2V0aWMgYWNpZGl0eSBhbmQgc3VzdGFpbmluZyBtaW5lcmFsaXR5LjwvcD4KPHA+PGRpdiBjbGFzcz0iYWQtY29udGFpbmVyIGFkLWNvbnRhaW5lci0tbW9iaWxlIj48ZGl2IGlkPSJwb3N0LWlubGluZS0yIiBjbGFzcz0iaXBjLWFkdmVydCI+PC9kaXY+PC9kaXY+PC9wPgo8cD5DbMOpbWVudCBCw6RydHNjaGksIGNlbGxhcm1hc3RlciBhdCBNIENoYXBvdXRpZXIsIGRlc2NyaWJlZCBpdCBhcyByZXNlbWJsaW5nIHNvbWV0aGluZyBiZXR3ZWVuIDIwMTQgYW5kIDIwMDEgaW4gc3R5bGUg4oCTIGhpZ2ggcHJhaXNlLjwvcD4KPGRpdiBjbGFzcz0iYnJlYWtvdXQgcGFsZXR0ZS1hIHBhbmVsIHBhbmVsLWRlZmF1bHQiPjxkaXYgY2xhc3M9InBhbmVsLWJvZHkiPjxkaXYgY2xhc3M9J2JyZWFrb3V0LWNvbnRlbnQnPjwvcD4KPGgzIHN0eWxlPSJ0ZXh0LWFsaWduOiBsZWZ0Ij5SaMO0bmUgMjAyMSBzY29yZSB0YWJsZXM6PC9oMz4KPHAgc3R5bGU9InRleHQtYWxpZ246IGxlZnQiPjxhIGhyZWY9Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmRlY2FudGVyLmNvbS5tYXN0ZXIucHVibGljLmtleXN0b25lLXByb2QtZWtzLWV1dzEuZnV0dXJlcGxjLmVuZ2luZWVyaW5nLm1hc3Rlci5wdWJsaWMua2V5c3RvbmUtcHJvZC1la3MtZXV3MS5mdXR1cmVwbGMuZW5naW5lZXJpbmcvcmhvbmUtMjAyMS1zY29yZS10YWJsZS8iIHRhcmdldD0iX2JsYW5rIiByZWw9Im5vb3BlbmVyIG5vcmVmZXJyZXIiPjxzdHJvbmc+QWxsPC9zdHJvbmc+IDxiPnRvcCA8c3Ryb25nPlJow7RuZSAyMDIxIHNjb3JlIHRhYmxlPC9zdHJvbmc+PC9iPjwvYT48L3A+CjxkaXYgY2xhc3M9ImFkLWNvbnRhaW5lciBhZC1jb250YWluZXItLW1vYmlsZSI+CjxkaXYgaWQ9InBvc3QtaW5saW5lLTMiIGNsYXNzPSJpcGMtYWR2ZXJ0Ij48L2Rpdj4KPC9kaXY+CjxwIHN0eWxlPSJ0ZXh0LWFsaWduOiBsZWZ0Ij48YSBocmVmPSJodHRwczovL3d3dy5kZWNhbnRlci5jb20ubWFzdGVyLnB1YmxpYy5rZXlzdG9uZS1wcm9kLWVrcy1ldXcxLmZ1dHVyZXBsYy5lbmdpbmVlcmluZy5tYXN0ZXIucHVibGljLmtleXN0b25lLXByb2QtZWtzLWV1dzEuZnV0dXJlcGxjLmVuZ2luZWVyaW5nL3NvdXRoZXJuLXJob25lLTIwMjEtc2NvcmUtdGFibGUvIj48c3Ryb25nPlRvcC1zY29yaW5nIHNvdXRoZXJuIFJow7RuZSAyMDIxIHNjb3JlIHRhYmxlPC9zdHJvbmc+PC9hPjwvcD4KPGRpdiBjbGFzcz0iaW5qZWN0aW9uIj48L2Rpdj4KPHAgc3R5bGU9InRleHQtYWxpZ246IGxlZnQiPjxhIGhyZWY9Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmRlY2FudGVyLmNvbS5tYXN0ZXIucHVibGljLmtleXN0b25lLXByb2QtZWtzLWV1dzEuZnV0dXJlcGxjLmVuZ2luZWVyaW5nLm1hc3Rlci5wdWJsaWMua2V5c3RvbmUtcHJvZC1la3MtZXV3MS5mdXR1cmVwbGMuZW5naW5lZXJpbmcvbm9ydGhlcm4tcmhvbmUtMjAyMS1zY29yZS10YWJsZS8iPjxzdHJvbmc+VG9wLXNjb3Jpbmcgbm9ydGhlcm4gUmjDtG5lIDIwMjEgc2NvcmUgdGFibGU8L3N0cm9uZz48L2E+PC9wPgo8ZGl2IGNsYXNzPSJhZC1jb250YWluZXIgYWQtY29udGFpbmVyLS1tb2JpbGUiPgo8ZGl2IGlkPSJwb3N0LWlubGluZS00IiBjbGFzcz0iaXBjLWFkdmVydCI+PC9kaXY+CjwvZGl2Pgo8cCBzdHlsZT0idGV4dC1hbGlnbjogbGVmdCI+PGEgaHJlZj0iaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZGVjYW50ZXIuY29tLm1hc3Rlci5wdWJsaWMua2V5c3RvbmUtcHJvZC1la3MtZXV3MS5mdXR1cmVwbGMuZW5naW5lZXJpbmcubWFzdGVyLnB1YmxpYy5rZXlzdG9uZS1wcm9kLWVrcy1ldXcxLmZ1dHVyZXBsYy5lbmdpbmVlcmluZy9yaG9uZS0yMDIxLXNjb3JlLXRhYmxlLXRvcC1yZWQtd2luZXMvIj48c3Ryb25nPlRvcC1zY29yaW5nIDIwMjEgcmVkIHdpbmVzPC9zdHJvbmc+PC9hPjwvcD4KPHAgc3R5bGU9InRleHQtYWxpZ246IGxlZnQiPjxhIGhyZWY9Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmRlY2FudGVyLmNvbS5tYXN0ZXIucHVibGljLmtleXN0b25lLXByb2QtZWtzLWV1dzEuZnV0dXJlcGxjLmVuZ2luZWVyaW5nLm1hc3Rlci5wdWJsaWMua2V5c3RvbmUtcHJvZC1la3MtZXV3MS5mdXR1cmVwbGMuZW5naW5lZXJpbmcvcmhvbmUtMjAyMS1zY29yZS10YWJsZS10b3Atd2hpdGUtd2luZXMvIj48c3Ryb25nPlRvcC1zY29yaW5nIDIwMjEgd2hpdGUgd2luZXM8L3N0cm9uZz48L2E+PC9wPgo8ZGl2IGNsYXNzPSJhZC1jb250YWluZXIgYWQtY29udGFpbmVyLS1tb2JpbGUiPgo8ZGl2IGlkPSJwb3N0LWlubGluZS01IiBjbGFzcz0iaXBjLWFkdmVydCI+PC9kaXY+CjwvZGl2Pgo8cD4KPC9kaXY+PGRpdiBjbGFzcz0nYnJlYWtvdXQtYnV0dG9ucyc+PGRpdiBjbGFzcz0ncm93Jz48L2Rpdj48L2Rpdj48L2Rpdj48L2Rpdj4KPGhyPgo8ZGl2IGNsYXNzPSJicmVha291dCBwYWxldHRlLWEgcGFuZWwgcGFuZWwtZGVmYXVsdCI+PGRpdiBjbGFzcz0icGFuZWwtYm9keSI+PGRpdiBjbGFzcz0nYnJlYWtvdXQtY29udGVudCc+PC9wPgo8aDI+SGVybWl0YWdlIDIwMjEga2V5IHByb2R1Y2Vyczo8L2gyPgo8cD5NIENoYXBvdXRpZXI8L3A+CjxwPkRvbWFpbmUgSkwgQ2hhdmU8L3A+CjxwPkRvbWFpbmUgTWFyYyBTb3JyZWw8L3A+CjxoMj5IZXJtaXRhZ2UgMjAyMSB0b3AgdmFsdWUgd2luZXM6PC9oMj4KPHA+Q2F2ZSBkZSBUYWluLCBBdSBDb2V1ciBkZXMgU2nDqGNsZXMgQmxhbmM8L3A+CjxwPkRvbWFpbmUgZHUgQ29sb21iaWVyLCBCbGFuYzwvcD4KPHA+RG9tYWluZSBMYXVyZW50IEZheW9sbGUsIExlcyBEaW9nbmnDqHJlcyBCbGFuYzwvcD4KPHA+CjwvZGl2PjxkaXYgY2xhc3M9J2JyZWFrb3V0LWJ1dHRvbnMnPjxkaXYgY2xhc3M9J3Jvdyc+PC9kaXY+PC9kaXY+PC9kaXY+PC9kaXY+CjxwPgo="}
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.
{}
{"wineId":"64765","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"64766","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"64767","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"64768","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"64769","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"64770","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"64801","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"64802","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"64803","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"64804","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"64805","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"64806","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"64807","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"64808","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"64809","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"64810","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"64811","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"64812","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{}
Related content: