Jean-Louis Chave
Domaine Jean-Louis Chave is often called the “Pope of Hermitage”. From the tiny village of Mauves, just south of Hermitage in the norther Rhône, Chave’s traditionally made wine is the “top of the hierarchy” (Jeb Dunnuck) in Heritage. The Chave family owns plots in all 7 of the lieux-dits (special plots) on the famous Hermitage hill (see image below), which enables them to produce wines of stunning complexity and finesse.
Domaine Chave was founded in 1481. It has been blessed with an “incredible succession of talented vignerons” (Jeb Dunnuck) through the ages. Gérard Chave ran the estate until Gérard before slowly handing over to son Jean-Louis Chave. This is a traditional estate which keeps an eye on the future (a recently completed new cellar includes a state-of-the-art lab). Vinification is in three large oak upright casks. Aging is in small French oak barrels with the amount of new oak falling in the 20-30% range. The wines are then blended in tank and bottled without being filtered. If needed, the wines can see a light egg-white fining before bottling.
Domaine Chave was founded in 1481. It has been blessed with an “incredible succession of talented vignerons” (Jeb Dunnuck) through the ages. Gérard Chave ran the estate until Gérard before slowly handing over to son Jean-Louis Chave. This is a traditional estate which keeps an eye on the future (a recently completed new cellar includes a state-of-the-art lab). Vinification is in three large oak upright casks. Aging is in small French oak barrels with the amount of new oak falling in the 20-30% range. The wines are then blended in tank and bottled without being filtered. If needed, the wines can see a light egg-white fining before bottling.
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Rhone | 1 | 98 (JS) | $2,200.00 | |||||
James Suckling (98)Very floral and just settling in with fresh red cherries and blackberries that have real freshness and definition. Great energy here. Very upright and elegantly focused. Dark chocolate and licorice to close. You feel the granite profoundly here. Try around 2028. |
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Rhone | 1 | 98 (JD) | $795.00 | |||||
Jeb Dunnuck (98)Just an incredible Hermitage in every sense, the 2017 Hermitage reminds me of the 2016 yet on steroids (or maybe a more finesse-driven example of the 2015?). Revealing a deep, saturated purple color as well as a stunning nose of red and black currants, kirsch, Asian spices, cured meats, ground pepper, and Acacia flowers, it shows more classic Chave minerality with time in the glass, and if this doesn't put a smile on your face, I don't know what will. These all carry to a full-bodied, powerful, yet seamless wine that has the sunny, extroverted style of the vintage yet still packs incredible mid-palate depth, ripe, polished tannins, no hard edges, and one hell of an incredible finish. It's going to be relatively accessible by this cuvée’s standards and offer considerable pleasure in its youth, yet also have 30-40 years of longevity. |
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Rhone | 1 | 98 (JD) | $334.00 | |||||
Jeb Dunnuck (98)Just an incredible Hermitage in every sense, the 2017 Hermitage reminds me of the 2016 yet on steroids (or maybe a more finesse-driven example of the 2015?). Revealing a deep, saturated purple color as well as a stunning nose of red and black currants, kirsch, Asian spices, cured meats, ground pepper, and Acacia flowers, it shows more classic Chave minerality with time in the glass, and if this doesn't put a smile on your face, I don't know what will. These all carry to a full-bodied, powerful, yet seamless wine that has the sunny, extroverted style of the vintage yet still packs incredible mid-palate depth, ripe, polished tannins, no hard edges, and one hell of an incredible finish. It's going to be relatively accessible by this cuvée’s standards and offer considerable pleasure in its youth, yet also have 30-40 years of longevity. |
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Rhone | 1 | 98 (JD) | $4,655.00 | |||||
Jeb Dunnuck (98)Just an incredible Hermitage in every sense, the 2017 Hermitage reminds me of the 2016 yet on steroids (or maybe a more finesse-driven example of the 2015?). Revealing a deep, saturated purple color as well as a stunning nose of red and black currants, kirsch, Asian spices, cured meats, ground pepper, and Acacia flowers, it shows more classic Chave minerality with time in the glass, and if this doesn't put a smile on your face, I don't know what will. These all carry to a full-bodied, powerful, yet seamless wine that has the sunny, extroverted style of the vintage yet still packs incredible mid-palate depth, ripe, polished tannins, no hard edges, and one hell of an incredible finish. It's going to be relatively accessible by this cuvée’s standards and offer considerable pleasure in its youth, yet also have 30-40 years of longevity. |
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Rhone | 1 | 100 (JD) | $954.00 | |||||
Jeb Dunnuck (100)I was blown away by the 2018 Hermitage from barrel, and it unquestionably doesn't disappoint from bottle. Reminding me slightly of the 2009, it possesses off-the-charts richness and depth, but like all great wines, stays pure, balanced, and light on its feel. Extraordinary notes of cassis, blue fruits, graphite, violets, and flowers define the bouquet, and this full-bodied, layered, multi-dimensional beauty has ripe tannins, flawless balance, and a great finish. This is pure Hermitage magic. Given its extravagant richness and texture, it should be relatively accessible in just a handful of years yet evolve for three decades or more. |
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Rhone | 1 | 100 (JD) | $2,190.00 | |||||
Jeb Dunnuck (100)I was blown away by the 2018 Hermitage from barrel, and it unquestionably doesn't disappoint from bottle. Reminding me slightly of the 2009, it possesses off-the-charts richness and depth, but like all great wines, stays pure, balanced, and light on its feel. Extraordinary notes of cassis, blue fruits, graphite, violets, and flowers define the bouquet, and this full-bodied, layered, multi-dimensional beauty has ripe tannins, flawless balance, and a great finish. This is pure Hermitage magic. Given its extravagant richness and texture, it should be relatively accessible in just a handful of years yet evolve for three decades or more. |
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Rhone | 1 | 98+ (JD) | $2,625.00 | |||||
Jeb Dunnuck (98+)A powerhouse of a wine that flirts with perfection, the 2019 Hermitage reveals a dense purple hue as well as an extraordinary bouquet of sweet blue fruits supported by notes of crushed stone, lead pencil, leather, and ground pepper, with hints of flowers in the background. Full-bodied, stunningly pure, and massively concentrated, yet with riveting precision and elegance, it needs to be hidden in the back of the cellar for a decade and will evolve for 30, 40, if not 50 years. Tasting the trilogy of the 2018, 2019, and 2020 over the coming decades will be the equivalent of wine nirvana. |
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Rhone | 1 | 98-100 (JD) | $3,415.00 | |||||
Jeb Dunnuck (98-100)Tasted out of tank, the 2020 Hermitage ranks with the legendary wines from this address. Reminding me of a slightly more elegant version of the 2010, it's a deep, inky hued effort revealing utterly classic Hermitage aromatics of darker cassis and blue fruits as well as a liquid rock-like sense of minerality. Young and primordial, it still has incredible purity and freshness in its aromatics. Full-bodied and powerful on the palate, this gorgeous wine is going to shine with just 4-6 years of bottle age yet age with the best of them. I would not be surprised to see this beauty have 40, 50, or even 60 years of life. |
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Rhone | 1 | 96 (DC) | $2,190.00 | |||||
Decanter (96)A tasting of the constituent lieux-dits before blending was as instructive as ever. Péléat was smooth, silky and red-fruited with good acidity; Beaumes slightly meatier, a little less concentrated than a typical year, but with good tannic drive; L'Ermite was serious, dry and mineral; Bessards very strict, with tight, rigid tannins. The final blend is likely to produce a structural rather than generous style of Hermitage, with tannins that will need a long time in bottle to settle. This will be ascetic in youth, then complex and textural with age. |
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Rhone | 3 | 98+ (JD) | $1,915.00 | |||||
Jeb Dunnuck (98+)Showing beautifully (if not eyes-roll-back-in-your-head good), the 2022 Hermitage offers sun-kissed blackberry and cassis fruits intermixed with sweet herbs, graphite, crushed stones, and incense on the nose. It's full-bodied, has a beautiful core of fruit and firm, classic, granite-inspired structure and tannins. This is an ultra-classic, gorgeous Hermitage from this incredible family that will see its 50th birthday in fine form. It reminds me slightly of the 1998. Drink 2028-2072. |
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Rhone | 1 | 95 (WA) | $1,675.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (95)A 1,000-case blend of 80% Marsanne and 20% Roussanne, the profound 2000 Hermitage blanc boasts a terrific perfume of honeysuckle, white flowers, peaches, citrus, and minerals. Displaying an unctuous texture along with tremendous glycerin, richness, and depth, it will undoubtedly close down after a few years in the bottle, but for now, it is a spectacularly rich, multidimensional white Hermitage to drink young, then forget about for 5-10 years, after which it will last for 15-20 years. |
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Rhone | 1 | 97 (VN) | $1,635.00 | |||||
Vinous (97)The 2007 L'Hermitage Blanc is brilliance in the glass, opening with the most elegant notes of candle wax, dried flowers and distant hay. Dried jasmine and toast add further aromatic complexity. On the medium-bodied palate, the 2007 shows stunning mineral verve, doubling down with impressive precision and focus on a long, finely nuanced finale. I couldn't imagine a better time to enjoy this white Northern Rhône beauty than today. |
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Rhone | 2 | 98+ (JD) | $1,645.00 | |||||
Jeb Dunnuck (98+)Cut from the same cloth, the 2017 Hermitage Blanc is stunning stuff, and Chave lovers should unquestionably have bottles of this in the cellar. Bottled in August of this year, its medium gold hue is followed by a mammoth bouquet of quince, flower oil, buttered almonds, and brioche. Every bit as good on the palate, it’s full-bodied, has a stacked mid-palate, flawless balance, and incredible minerality as well as length on the finish. It’s insanely good today, and while this cuvée can shut down, I wonder if this ever will. My money is on this drinking fabulously well for 25+ years. Life is too short not to drink as much Chave Hermitage Blanc as possible! |
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Rhone | 1 | 100 (JD) | $2,035.00 | |||||
Jeb Dunnuck (100)Pure gold, the 2018 Hermitage Blanc is another heavenly Hermitage Blanc from this estate that could not be any better. More in the style of the 2009 with its ripe, sexy, yet still pure and seamless profile, it offers quintessential notes of quince, honeyed lemons, white flowers, marzipan, and buttered toast. Full-bodied, deep, unctuous, and blockbuster styled on the palate, it has a level of purity that's off the charts. It offers incredible pleasure today, and you should unquestionably try a bottle over the coming year or two, then it will need a decade of cellaring. Hermitage Blanc – or white wine, for that matter – simply doesn't get any better. |
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Rhone | 1 | 98+ (JD) | $1,680.00 | |||||
Jeb Dunnuck (98+)Another incredible white from this family is the 2019 Hermitage Blanc, a powerful, concentrated, and remarkably pure Hermitage that has laser-like focus as well as textbook Marsanne notes of quince, green almond, powdered rock, licorice, and spice. It’s still tight, focused, and inward at present, yet it reminds me of the 2018 with its purity and rare mix of power and elegance. It’s worth trying a bottle any time over the coming 3-5 years, but after that, I’d recommend waiting until after 2031. |
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Rhone | 1 | 99 (JD) | $1,885.00 | |||||
Jeb Dunnuck (99)Another heavenly white from this estate is the 2020 Hermitage Blanc, which is the usual 80% Marsanne and 20% Roussanne from a mix lieux-dits. Incredibly perfumed with notes of acacia flowers, buttered stone fruits, toasted brioche, honeysuckle, and crushed stone, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a seamless, layered texture, beautiful mid-palate depth, and a great finish. The purity, balance, and intensity here are just about off the charts, and this beauty deserves a solid decade of bottle age, although you'll be excused if you drink one in its youth as well. |
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Rhone | 1 | 96 (VN) | $257.00 | |||||
Vinous (96)Vinified from grapes that were harvested as late as the 26th of September, the 2021 L'Hermitage Blanc was cropped at 38 hL/ha, above the levels of 2022. It dazzles with vivid spring blossom, honeysuckle, lemon peel, white peach, quince, apricot and discrete cedar aromas. Medium-bodied and immaculately balanced by bright acidity, this is an athletic L'Hermitage Blanc with marked freshness and energy. A saline aftertaste wraps up the sapid finish. Outstanding. |
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Rhone | 2 | 96 (VN) | $1,335.00 | |||||
Vinous (96)Vinified from grapes that were harvested as late as the 26th of September, the 2021 L'Hermitage Blanc was cropped at 38 hL/ha, above the levels of 2022. It dazzles with vivid spring blossom, honeysuckle, lemon peel, white peach, quince, apricot and discrete cedar aromas. Medium-bodied and immaculately balanced by bright acidity, this is an athletic L'Hermitage Blanc with marked freshness and energy. A saline aftertaste wraps up the sapid finish. Outstanding. |
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Rhone | 5 | 97 (JD) | $1,445.00 | |||||
Jeb Dunnuck (97)Coming from tiny yields of 22 hectoliters per hectare, the 2022 Hermitage Blanc is a focused, pure, and chiseled white Hermitage offering riveting stone fruits, spice, and crushed stone, which turn to blanched almond and subtle brioche with air. Medium to full-bodied, focused, and tight on the palate, yet rich and powerful, it has the structure of a red wine and needs plenty of air if drinking any time soon. It will ideally be enjoyed over the coming 4-5 years or after a decade. |
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Rhone | 1 | 93 (VN) | $147.00 | |||||
Vinous (93)Deep ruby. Vibrant, sharply focused aromas of fresh dark berries, potpourri and licorice along with a smoky mineral overtone. Juicy and vibrant on the palate, offering concentrated boysenberry and bitter cherry flavors that become sweeter and spicier with air. Fine-grained tannins give shape to the impressively long, mineral-driven finish, which leaves behind sexy floral pastille and spicecake notes. |
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Rhone | 1 | 93 (VN) | $902.00 | |||||
Vinous (93)(made with 25 percent whole clusters) Inky ruby. Pungent, spice-accented aromas of ripe dark berries, candied violet, licorice and smoky minerals. Juicy and expansive on the palate, offering pliant black and blue fruit and floral pastille flavors that are complemented and lifted by a jolt of peppery spices. Becomes sweeter and deeper with air, with no loss of energy, and finishes sappy and very long; smooth tannins add shape and grip. |
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