Profile and History
Château l’Ermitage is linked with SCEA Castillon et Fils in Saint-Gilles in the Département Gard in France. The estate is associated with a former monastery that was acquired after the French Revolution and converted into a vineyard business. The Castillon family has been farming the vineyards for about 30 years; Jérôme Castillon is named as owner and a member of the second generation, and his son Tanguy also works in the estate.
Vineyards and Terroir
The estate farms around 80 hectares of vineyard area. The vines are more than 50 years old. Syrah, Grenache and Mourvèdre grow on a terroir of rounded river pebbles from the Rhône. The estate is located on a south-facing massif overlooking the Camargue and the Mediterranean Sea.
Wines and Grape Varieties
Château l’Ermitage produces red, white and rosé wines of the Costières de Nîmes appellation in the Rhône Valley, including Sainte-Cécile, Auzan and Epicuria respectively Epicurea. The red Sainte-Cécile from the 2009 vintage consists of 60 percent Syrah as well as Mourvèdre and Grenache. The 2017 vintage contains 45 percent Mourvèdre, 45 percent Syrah and 10 percent Grenache. The Saint Cécile Blanc is listed with 70 percent Roussanne, 20 percent Viognier and 10 percent Grenache; Epicuria respectively Epicurea is a single-variety Mourvèdre.
Maturation
The red Sainte-Cécile 2009 matured in tank and in cask. The Epicuria respectively Epicurea 2016 vintage received ageing in 400-litre barrels.
