Hermitage see Cinsaut below
Cinsaut; Cinsault [SAN-soh]
Red-wine grape that is widely planted in France. It’s extensively grown throughout Languedoc-Roussillon, with particular emphasis in Aude, L’Hérault, and Gard. Because Cinsaut can withstand very hot weather and is highly productive, it contributes greatly to the huge volumes of wine from this area. Cinsaut grapes create wines that are light in body and neutral in flavor. Because of their high acidity and low tannins, Cinsaut wines are usually balanced with a blend of Grenache and/or carignin (in Languedoc-Roussillon and surrounding areas). In the southern Rhône where its yield is strictly controlled (a limited volume per acre), Cinsaut produces wines that are more deeply colored, concentrated, and flavorful. Here, Cinsaut is blended with a variety of other grape varieties including Clairette, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Muscadine, and Syrah. This grape was once heavily grown in North Africa (particularly Algeria) and is still widely cultivated in South Africa. The South Africans also crossed Cinsaut with Pinot Noir to create Pinotage. Cinsaut is also called Espagne, Hermitage, Malaga, Ottavianello, Œillade, Picardan Noir, and Prunella.
The New Wine Lovers Companion, 2nd Edition, by Ron Herbst and Sharon Tyler Herbst. Copyright © (1) 2003, 1995 by Ron Herbst and Sharon Tyler Herbst. Reprinted by arrangement with Barron's Educational Series, Inc.