In the Hermitage appellation there are still some small-scale winegrowers cultivating their vineyards alongside the larger commercial operations. Marc Sorrel is one such producer and his Hermitage Le Gréal is now on par with the area’s best-known wines. In the early 1980s, Marc took over from his father who had decided, at the start of the 1970s, to produce and bottle his own wine instead of selling it to the trade. When his father died, he inherited some of the vineyards and bought just over one hectare of other parcels on the Colline de l’Hermitage. Today, he tends his old vines on some of the finest plots on the hillside meticulously and with a passion.

The locality of les Rocoules is one of the most prestigious of the appellation. Fermentation is done slowly and barrel fermentation lasts from eight to ten weeks. Ageing is partially done on fine lees and the wine is not filtered. This is a rich and creamy wine, without being too unctuous, and which offers great aromatic purity. Here we discover aromas of peach, vanilla and honey, which pair well with sauce-based fish dishes or even foie gras.