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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(1x75cl) 2017Vinous (94)
Inky ruby. An expansive bouquet evokes ripe black and blue fruits, candied flowers and smoky bacon, along with suggestions of olive and pipe tobacco. Densely packed, spice-accented blackberry and cherry liqueur flavors show fine delineation and energetic lift thanks to a core of juicy acidity. A mineral nuance arrives with air and carries through a long, velvety finish framed by round, well-knit tannins.$111.00 -
Jancis Robinson (18.5)
Sample 1: Dardouille. Beautiful black-olive and smoke-tinged nose – granitic graphite notes, fantastic depth of fruit and fine silky tannins with a dollop of spice. Sample 2: Le Clos. Stacks of black pepper, menthol and clove showing on the nose. The palate is densely concentrated but with real energy, freshness and vibrancy. Sample 3: Chaillés. Beautiful whole-bunch aromas of lapsang souchong, smoke, ash and five spice. Fantastic vibrant freshness and sculpted fine tannins. Sample 4: Bachasson. A nose packed full of black-olive tapenade and Lagavulin peaty smoke. The palate has a floral tinge with white pepper and tannins that are fine and silky. There's such finesse here!$134.00 -
(6x75cl) 2019Jancis Robinson (18.5)
Sample 1: Dardouille. Beautiful black-olive and smoke-tinged nose – granitic graphite notes, fantastic depth of fruit and fine silky tannins with a dollop of spice. Sample 2: Le Clos. Stacks of black pepper, menthol and clove showing on the nose. The palate is densely concentrated but with real energy, freshness and vibrancy. Sample 3: Chaillés. Beautiful whole-bunch aromas of lapsang souchong, smoke, ash and five spice. Fantastic vibrant freshness and sculpted fine tannins. Sample 4: Bachasson. A nose packed full of black-olive tapenade and Lagavulin peaty smoke. The palate has a floral tinge with white pepper and tannins that are fine and silky. There's such finesse here!$557.00 -
(1x75cl) 2020Vinous (96-97)
As with the 2020 L'Hermitage, I tasted this wine in its components, shortly before blending and bottling. This vintage is highly successful at Chave, and this wine, which would qualify as the gateway bottling made from estate fruit, looks to be outstanding, with juicy, spice-laced red and blue fruit character of noteworthy freshness, plus strong florality and mineral drive. I was also struck by the fineness of the tannins, which will likely make the final wine deceptively approachable on release. Don't be fooled - this wine has a long and enviable track record for rewarding patience.$107.00 -
Vinous (96-97)
As with the 2020 L'Hermitage, I tasted this wine in its components, shortly before blending and bottling. This vintage is highly successful at Chave, and this wine, which would qualify as the gateway bottling made from estate fruit, looks to be outstanding, with juicy, spice-laced red and blue fruit character of noteworthy freshness, plus strong florality and mineral drive. I was also struck by the fineness of the tannins, which will likely make the final wine deceptively approachable on release. Don't be fooled - this wine has a long and enviable track record for rewarding patience.$476.00 -
$414.00 -
(6x75cl) 2022$472.00 -
$98.00 -
Vinous (94)
Inky violet color. Displays ripe dark fruit, licorice, olive, potpourri and cracked pepper aromas, plus a smoky mineral flourish that adds an energetic lift. Sappy and broad on the palate, offering appealingly sweet black and blue fruit, cola, licorice and exotic spice flavors that show impressive depth and vivacity. Finishes very long and precise, with a lingering floral quality and dusty, slowly building tannins.$1,120.00 -
(1x75cl) 2018Vinous (94)
Inky violet color. Displays ripe dark fruit, licorice, olive, potpourri and cracked pepper aromas, plus a smoky mineral flourish that adds an energetic lift. Sappy and broad on the palate, offering appealingly sweet black and blue fruit, cola, licorice and exotic spice flavors that show impressive depth and vivacity. Finishes very long and precise, with a lingering floral quality and dusty, slowly building tannins.$269.00 -
Vinous (94)
Inky violet color. Displays ripe dark fruit, licorice, olive, potpourri and cracked pepper aromas, plus a smoky mineral flourish that adds an energetic lift. Sappy and broad on the palate, offering appealingly sweet black and blue fruit, cola, licorice and exotic spice flavors that show impressive depth and vivacity. Finishes very long and precise, with a lingering floral quality and dusty, slowly building tannins.$580.00 -
Vinous (95)
Saturated violet color. Smoky, mineral-accented black and blue fruit scents are complicated by olive paste, licorice and floral nuances that build in the glass. Juicy and energetic in the mouth, offering vibrant blackberry, boysenberry, candied violet and smoky bacon flavors that become sweeter with air. The floral and mineral notes come back strong on the penetrating finish, which shows outstanding persistence and fine-grained, harmonious tannins.$114.00 -
Vinous (93)
Full violet color. Heady, spice-accented dark berry, cola and floral pastille scents show excellent clarity and pick up a mineral nuance with aeration. Juicy and expansive on the palate, offering bitter cherry, blueberry and olive paste flavors that are given spine by a core of juicy acidity. Finishes gently sweet, broad and very long, with an echo of candied violet and slowly emerging tannins.$488.00 -
(1x75cl) 2019Vinous (93)
Full violet color. Heady, spice-accented dark berry, cola and floral pastille scents show excellent clarity and pick up a mineral nuance with aeration. Juicy and expansive on the palate, offering bitter cherry, blueberry and olive paste flavors that are given spine by a core of juicy acidity. Finishes gently sweet, broad and very long, with an echo of candied violet and slowly emerging tannins.$239.00 -
(1x75cl) 2021$106.00 -
Vinous (92)
Shimmering ruby color. Lively red and blue fruit and floral aromas are sharpened by a spicy suggestion of white pepper. Juicy and broad on the palate, offering appealingly sweet black raspberry and boysenberry flavors that become firmer on the back half. Supple, even tannins shape the finely etched, clinging finish, which leaves a suave floral note behind.$309.00 -
(1x75cl) 2020Vinous (92)
Shimmering ruby color. Lively red and blue fruit and floral aromas are sharpened by a spicy suggestion of white pepper. Juicy and broad on the palate, offering appealingly sweet black raspberry and boysenberry flavors that become firmer on the back half. Supple, even tannins shape the finely etched, clinging finish, which leaves a suave floral note behind.$93.00 -
(12x75cl) 2020$496.00 -
(1x75cl) 2020$106.00 -
(1x75cl) 2017$128.00 -
(1x75cl) 2018$121.00 -
(1x75cl) 2019Jeb Dunnuck (95)
Coming all from the Maison Blanche lieu-dit, the 2019 Hermitage Blanche is based on 80% Marsanne and 20% Roussanne that spent two years in used barrels. It's a smoking value in Hermitage Blanc, offering classic notes of quince, honeyed minerality, buttered citrus, and green almonds. Rich and full-bodied, with a layered, opulent texture and a great finish, it's a no-brainer purchase that can be enjoyed any time over the coming decade, if not longer.$120.00 -
(12x75cl) 2020$590.00 -
(12x75cl) 2021$589.00
