A unique terroir named the Hermitage hill
Over thousands of years, time worked its magic. The Alpine uplift, the river’s course, glaciers, and winds enriched the depths of the hill with an exceptional diversity of soils.
In one place, where 4 geological eras merge, at the junction of the Alpine and Central Massifs, the Rhône Valley has settled.
From this unique geological and geographical diversity, a varied and complex terroir emerges.
The Hill of Hermitage is divided into two distinct geological massifs.
Indeed, the western part is made up of a rocky granite spur belonging to the ancient basement of the Massif Central.
The eastern part consists of an aggregate of Quaternary alluvium from the Rhône, which constitutes the second geological foundation of the soils of Hermitage.
Eastern edge of the Massif Central: Palaeozoic bedrock + volcanoes
West European Rift filled in during the Tertiary and Quaternary Eras
Limestone alpine mountain rim, Mesozoic Era
Heart of the crystalline Alpine chain
The Rhône
Eastern edge of the Massif Central: Palaeozoic bedrock + volcanoes
West European Rift filled in during the Tertiary and Quaternary Eras
Limestone alpine mountain rim, Mesozoic Era
Heart of the crystalline Alpine chain
The Rhône
Under the upper vineyards of Méal, Rocoules, and Murets, numerous limestone pebbles from the Quaternary glacial period are found. The soils of the highest terraces are the oldest and have a significant stoniness, a result of erosion, leaching, and steep slopes ranging from 40% to 60%.
The soils of the lower terraces, which are less steep, constitute areas of silt or clay accumulation, imparting a high water retention capacity to the soil. The stoniness varies.
On the parcels of Maison Blanche and Les Murets, there is a fine, sandy, and chalky loamy soil. This loess is the result of aeolian erosion during the four Quaternary glaciations.
Strong winds have carried away fine particles of soil, which have then been deposited in sheltered areas, forming sometimes significant thicknesses.
Granite
During the Palaeozoic Era, magma pockets that did not reach the surface cooled inside the Earth’s crust, forming granite. This granitic part, found in Bessards and Varogne, gives rise to more or less decomposed acidic brown soils.
They contain a significant amount of rocks and stones resulting from the erosion of the underlying granite over 400 million years.
The bedrock is exposed in many places. In depth, the roots encounter clays derived from the ancient weathering of granite.
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What makes a great wine, what makes it unique and consistent, is indeed the terroir in which it originates.
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