Notify me
2020 Hermitage Blanc “La Pierrelle”
Barruol / Lynch![- Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant](https://s3.amazonaws.com/efcheckout/kermitlynch/products/Kermit-Lynch-Wine-Merchant-2020-Hermitage-iBlanci-La-Pierrelle-product-image-7826-medium.jpg)
Marsanne vines and apricot trees share a sliver of the storied hill of Hermitage, as both need to keep their feet wet, with roots in a soil that retains humidity—a rarity on the parched, windswept rise. However, a few exceptional parcels lie near the summit, where geology has gifted to Marsanne (and us) a soil with crushed limestone on top, and plenty of water retained year-round well below the surface. From the small plot called La Pierrelle, whose vines are more than eighty years old, comes this Marsanne with magnificent floral, pit fruit, and bitter notes. Some say those fruit notes are the result of bees pollinating the surrounding apricot trees as well as the vines; others claim they are from the plants’ interlacing roots. In any event, the flavors of fruit and flower over time veer toward a light touch of honey, and those bitters get more complex, refined, and irresistible. The classic local pairings for Hermitage blanc, especially as it ages, are white meat and fish dishes heavy in cream, butter, and morel mushrooms: timeless matches for a decidedly old-school wine.
—Chris Santini
Wine Type: | white |
Vintage: | 2020 |
Bottle Size: | 750mL |
Blend: | Marsanne |
Appellation: | Hermitage |
Country: | France |
Region: | Northern Rhône |
Producer: | Barruol / Lynch |
Winemaker: | Louis Barruol |
Vineyard: | 80 years |
Soil: | Granite |
Aging: | Pressed and fermented in Burgundian barrels |
Farming: | Lutte Raisonnée |
Alcohol: | 14% |
More from this Producer or Region
![2020 Hermitage <em>Rouge</em> “La Pierrelle” Barruol / Lynch](http://s3.amazonaws.com/efcheckout/kermitlynch/products/Kermit-Lynch-Wine-Merchant-2020-Hermitage-iRougei-La-Pierrelle-product-image-7028-medium.jpg)
2020 Hermitage Rouge “La Pierrelle”
France | Northern Rhône
Elegance and restraint from one of the hill’s lesser-known terroirs.
![2020 Crozes Hermitage “Tiercerolles” Barruol / Lynch](http://s3.amazonaws.com/efcheckout/kermitlynch/products/Kermit-Lynch-Wine-Merchant-2020-Crozes-Hermitage-Tiercerolles-product-image-7025-medium.jpg)
2020 Crozes Hermitage “Tiercerolles”
France | Northern Rhône
This juicy, blueberry-and-leather-infused Syrah with a long finish is ready to drink tonight.
![2019 Côte-Rôtie “La Boisselée” Barruol / Lynch](http://s3.amazonaws.com/efcheckout/kermitlynch/products/Kermit-Lynch-Wine-Merchant-2019-Cte-Rtie-La-Boissele-product-image-6699-medium.jpg)
2019 Côte-Rôtie “La Boisselée”
France | Northern Rhône
Made from six vineyards that, when blended, showcase the whole of the Côte Rôtie appellation.
![2021 Côte-Rôtie “Besset” Barruol / Lynch](http://s3.amazonaws.com/efcheckout/kermitlynch/products/Kermit-Lynch-Wine-Merchant-2021-Cte-Rtie-Besset-product-image-8512-medium.jpg)
2021 Côte-Rôtie “Besset”
France | Northern Rhône
From the classic aromas of graphite, black fruit, and roasted spice, to the total finesse of its tannins, this is Côte-Rôtie at its best.
![2020 Côte-Rôtie “Fongeant” Barruol / Lynch](http://s3.amazonaws.com/efcheckout/kermitlynch/products/Kermit-Lynch-Wine-Merchant-2020-Cte-Rtie-Fongeant-product-image-7051-medium.jpg)
2020 Côte-Rôtie “Fongeant”
France | Northern Rhône
This cuvée is sourced exclusively from the Fongeant lieu-dit, which sits right on the border of the Côte Blonde and Côte Brune, and is renowned for sharing the best of both.
![2018 Hermitage <em>Blanc</em> “La Pierrelle” Barruol / Lynch](http://s3.amazonaws.com/efcheckout/kermitlynch/products/Kermit-Lynch-Wine-Merchant-2018-Hermitage-iBlanci-La-Pierrelle-product-image-4958-medium.jpg)
2018 Hermitage Blanc “La Pierrelle”
France | Northern Rhône
From vines that are more than eighty years old comes this Marsanne with magnificent floral, pit fruit, and bitter notes.
![2021 Condrieu Lionel Faury](http://s3.amazonaws.com/efcheckout/kermitlynch/products/Kermit-Lynch-Wine-Merchant-2021-Condrieu-product-image-7957-medium.jpg)
2021 Condrieu
France | Northern Rhône
June Club Bianco ~ I would say that Faury does not make Viognier, but rather one hell of a Condrieu, replete with huge apricot and peach aromas and a fresh, regal palate.
![2020 Collines Rhodaniennes Syrah “l’Art Zélé” Lionel Faury](http://s3.amazonaws.com/efcheckout/kermitlynch/products/Kermit-Lynch-Wine-Merchant-2020-Collines-Rhodaniennes-Syrah-lArt-Zl-product-image-6409-medium.jpg)
2020 Collines Rhodaniennes Syrah “l’Art Zélé”
France | Northern Rhône
The depth, complexity, and crushed-stone minerality of a great Côte-Rôtie, all while maintaining inviting youthful fruit.
![2022 Saint-Joseph <i>Blanc</i> “Clef de Sol” Domaine Jolivet](http://s3.amazonaws.com/efcheckout/kermitlynch/products/Kermit-Lynch-Wine-Merchant-2022-SaintJoseph-iBlanci-Clef-de-Sol-product-image-9042-medium.jpg)
2022 Saint-Joseph Blanc “Clef de Sol”
France | Northern Rhône
Round and generous on first blush and then wound up, energetic, and fine-grained on the finish, this thoroughbred wine is sculpted for the cellar but still provides a lot of immediate gratification.
![2020 Côte-Rôtie “Les Roses” Barruol / Lynch](http://s3.amazonaws.com/efcheckout/kermitlynch/products/Kermit-Lynch-Wine-Merchant-2020-Cte-Rtie-Les-Roses-product-image-6665-medium.jpg)
2020 Côte-Rôtie “Les Roses”
France | Northern Rhône
The magic of great Côte Rôtie does not come from its reputation for being a big, bombastic wine.
About The Producer
Barruol / Lynch
Louis Barruol is an indefatigable force in the Rhône, the 14th generation in his family to be making wine in Gigondas. On what was once the site of a Roman villa, Louis’ cellars show spectacular remains of Roman vinification vats carved into the limestone. Here, Louis works with different grape varietals from the Rhône, vinifying each parcel separately. He’s taken to acting as a micro-négociant, working with top growers in the region who still work with Sérine. Producing only a few precious barrels of each cuvée, Louis is helping to save the authenticity and identity of old Côte Rôtie parcels. Together, he and Kermit blend our Northern Rhône wines and a Southern Côtes du Rhône Blanc and Rouge from a selection of Louis’ purchases.
More from Northern Rhône or France
2021 Ardèche Syrah “Syrah Mauve”
Domaine Jean-Claude Marsanne France | Northern Rhône
2019 Côte-Rôtie “La Boisselée”
Barruol / Lynch France | Northern Rhône
2018 Hermitage Blanc “La Pierrelle”
Barruol / Lynch France | Northern Rhône
2021 Saint Joseph Rouge “Les Ribaudes”
Lionel Faury France | Northern Rhône
2020 Côte-Rôtie “Fongeant”
Barruol / Lynch France | Northern Rhône
2020 Hermitage Rouge “La Pierrelle”
Barruol / Lynch France | Northern Rhône
2019 Saint-Joseph Rouge
Jean-Claude Marsanne France | Northern Rhône
2022 Vin de France Blanc “Cuvée de Louis”
Domaine Jolivet France | Northern Rhône
2020 Collines Rhodaniennes Syrah “l’Art Zélé”
Lionel Faury France | Northern Rhône
2020 Crozes Hermitage “Tiercerolles”
Barruol / Lynch France | Northern Rhône
2021 Saint-Joseph Rouge “L’Instinct”
Domaine Jolivet France | Northern Rhône
2020 Saint-Joseph Blanc
Jean-Claude Marsanne France | Northern Rhône
2021 Ardèche Syrah “Syrah Mauve”
Domaine Jean-Claude Marsanne France | Northern Rhône
2019 Côte-Rôtie “La Boisselée”
Barruol / Lynch France | Northern Rhône
2018 Hermitage Blanc “La Pierrelle”
Barruol / Lynch France | Northern Rhône
2021 Saint Joseph Rouge “Les Ribaudes”
Lionel Faury France | Northern Rhône
2020 Côte-Rôtie “Fongeant”
Barruol / Lynch France | Northern Rhône
2020 Hermitage Rouge “La Pierrelle”
Barruol / Lynch France | Northern Rhône
2019 Saint-Joseph Rouge
Jean-Claude Marsanne France | Northern Rhône
2022 Vin de France Blanc “Cuvée de Louis”
Domaine Jolivet France | Northern Rhône
2020 Collines Rhodaniennes Syrah “l’Art Zélé”
Lionel Faury France | Northern Rhône
2020 Crozes Hermitage “Tiercerolles”
Barruol / Lynch France | Northern Rhône
2021 Saint-Joseph Rouge “L’Instinct”
Domaine Jolivet France | Northern Rhône
2020 Saint-Joseph Blanc
Jean-Claude Marsanne France | Northern Rhône
Vintage Chart Mentality
![Vintage Chart](http://s3.amazonaws.com/efcheckout/kermitlynch/content/Kermit-Lynch-Wine-Merchant-Vintage-Chart-Mentality-image_img_1-13435-medium.jpeg)
Vintage Chart Mentality
Trust the great winemakers, trust the great vineyards. Your wine merchant might even be trustworthy. In the long run, that vintage strip may be the least important guide to quality on your bottle of wine.—Kermit Lynch