Lot presentation

Hermitage Les Dionnières Fayolle 1996

The wine

The Hermitage boasts a rich, dense past. The Romans already knew of and enjoyed the ¿Vienna Wines¿ (alongside the Côte-Rôtie wines) that were then named ¿wines of the Saint-Christophe hillside¿ due to a chapel located there dedicated to the saint. It was in the 17th century that the name Hermitage appeared, in memory of a knight returning from the Crusades who had tired of war and who is said to have lived as a hermit on this hill owned by Anne of Castile, Queen of Spain. He is said to have replanted a vineyard here, which has since been known as the "Hermitage". The Hermitage white enjoys the same reputation as its red cousin. Full-bodied and rich, it is less heady and drier than a Condrieu. Blessed with fantastic ageing potential, it develops an incredible richness of aromas characterised by notes of hazelnut and dried apricot.