Domaine Jean-Louis Chave - L' Hermitage 2023

Domaine Jean-Louis Chave is a powerhouse producer located in the northern Rhône, making wine under the Hermitage and Saint-Joseph appellations. Chave's red and white Hermitage wines – based on Syrah and Marsanne and Roussanne respectively – are some of the most important in the Rhône Valley, commanding high prices and high demand from collectors and aficionados.

The estate has 14.5 hectares (36 acres) of land in Hermitage, making it one of the largest land owners in the appellation. The vineyards were planted when the Chave family arrived in Hermitage in the late 19th Century after phylloxera had devastated much of France. The vineyards were terraced and today cover eight different plots on the hill, providing a range of mesoclimates and terroirs for the Chave wines. Many of the vines are between 30 and 60 years old.

Generally 100% destemmed, as the Hermitage is meant to be about the expression of the individual vineyards and soils and Jean-Louis believes that stems have a tendency to level out the differences. Fermentation in wood tonneaux and stainless steel tanks. Aged in barriques for 30 months.

"As always, I was able to taste the 2023 Hermitage from multiple parcels, and it's clear this will be another beautiful Hermitage. The Péléat, which comes from sandier soils, is always more finesse-oriented. The Beaume lieu-dit brings more complexity and spice, the L'Ermite more minerality and rose petal nuances, and the Bessards always brings the granitic, graphite, structured core that defines this cuvée. I love the overall purity, elegance, and finesse of the 2023, which is a slight throwback to ripe, yet very classic, mineral-driven examples of Chave's Hermitage. It will offer some early enjoyment given its ripe style, yet the minerality and structure all point to it having ample longevity." - 96-98 Points, Jeb Dunnuck

Producer: Domaine Jean-Louis Chave 

Country: France

Region: Rhône Valley

Varietal: Syrah

Appellation: Hermitage

Vintage: 2023

Size: 750ml