Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage 2017
(Wine Advocate Score 96-99) Jean-Louis Chave had done some preblending of the 2017 Hermitage at the time of my visit, meaning several parcels had already been combined with others, so there were fewer components to taste. A sample that included some L'Ermite, Les Beaumes and Péléat was fragrant, loaded with peppery spice and came across as slightly open-knit (93 - 95). A second component, mostly Le Méal, was richer and riper-tasting, with lush fruit and hints of roasted meat (97 - 99). Finally, a sample Jean-Louis described as "more the core of the blend" (mainly Les Bessards) was simultaneously firm and generous, with notes of crushed stone, cassis and licorice (98 - 100).
| Winery | Chave |
|---|---|
| Country | France |
| Region | Rhone |
| Specific Appellation | Hermitage |
| Wine Type | Red Wine |
| Grape variety | Shiraz / Syrah |
| Bottle Size | Bottle |
| Vintage | 2017 |
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Wine growers in the Northern Rhone since 1491, the Chave family (currently helmed by Gé rard and son Jean-Louis) represents 16 generations of unbroken lineage committed to the evocation of some of the finest Syrah, Marsanne, and Roussanne on the planet.
Jean Louis joined his father in 1992 after completing undergraduate studies at University of Connecticut and a degree in oenology at Davis. After forfeiting his childhood dream of becoming a Wall Street broker, the prodigal son came home from America to accept his place among winemaking royalty. It was at that time that he completely replanted vineyards on the family’s original estate in Saint Joseph, which had been abandoned in the early 1900’s when phylloxera hit the region. His relatives subsequently purchased land on the anointed Hermitage hill.
J.L. Chave Sélection is the exclusive négociant label of Jean-Louis Chave, the doyen of Hermitage wine, and offers the perfect solution for those who adore the great wines from this appellation but not the price tag of Chave’s main label. The Chave's methods for all winemaking are traditional farming, super low yields, full ripeness, and minimal manipulation. Their unmatched meticulousness continues through five centuries to render venerable expressions of the purest of Northern Rhone Terroir.