Domaine Jean-Louis Chave
Hermitage Syrah
Hermitage, Northern Rhône, Rhône, France
Presented to me double-blind. The wine pours a brilliant, deep ruby color with a transparent core and some rim variation; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and faint signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with a heady perfume of mostly ripe and some tart fruit: mixed brambles, black cherry, purple flowers (lavender?), animale, some pepper, a touch of olive, a touch of leather, some green herbs, fine warm spices and rocky earth. I believe this has seen oak and it’s beautifully balanced and smells expensive. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Alcohol is medium+. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and the texture is grippy. This is delicious.
Initial conclusions: this could be Sangiovese, Pinot Noir, Gamay, a Grenache-based blend or possibly Syrah; from Italy, or France. Immediately after I was presented the glass, I liked this being Sangiovese, however, there was too much new French oak for me to feel comfortable. Besides, the florals were too purple to be Sangiovese anyway (never mind Grenache or Pinot Noir). Then there were the non-fruits: it could be justified by whole cluster Pinot or Gamay…or was this a really impressive Syrah? This wine seemed familiar to me. This could be Chave. I did think this had some age based on color and rim variation. Final conclusion: I’m calling this Syrah, from France, from Northern Rhône, Hermitage, with 20+ years of age, from a decent vintage like 2004. And for the hell if it, I called producer: Jean-Louis Chave. Boom. Bottle No. 3981
Presented to me double-blind. The wine pours a brilliant, deep ruby color with a transparent core and some rim variation; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and faint signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with a heady perfume of mostly ripe and some tart fruit: mixed brambles, black cherry, purple flowers (lavender?), animale, some pepper, a touch of olive, a touch of leather, some green herbs, fine warm spices and rocky earth. I believe this has seen oak and it’s beautifully balanced and smells expensive. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Alcohol is medium+. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and the texture is grippy. This is delicious.
Initial conclusions: this could be Sangiovese, Pinot Noir, Gamay, a Grenache-based blend or possibly Syrah; from Italy, or France. Immediately after I was presented the glass, I liked this being Sangiovese, however, there was too much new French oak for me to feel comfortable. Besides, the florals were too purple to be Sangiovese anyway (never mind Grenache or Pinot Noir). Then there were the non-fruits: it could be justified by whole cluster Pinot or Gamay…or was this a really impressive Syrah? This wine seemed familiar to me. This could be Chave. I did think this had some age based on color and rim variation. Final conclusion: I’m calling this Syrah, from France, from Northern Rhône, Hermitage, with 20+ years of age, from a decent vintage like 2004. And for the hell if it, I called producer: Jean-Louis Chave. Boom. Bottle No. 3981
Dark fruit. Lovely purity. Lots of gnarly fruit and dried herbs. Quite green notes but they work well in it, giving freshness and complexity. Lovely stuff.
Dark fruit. Lovely purity. Lots of gnarly fruit and dried herbs. Quite green notes but they work well in it, giving freshness and complexity. Lovely stuff.
Dec 26th, 2021
Top of a double blind flight of French Syrahs. Oh, so good.
Top of a double blind flight of French Syrahs. Oh, so good.
Mar 18th, 2020
Bright, lively and prodigious....@romo said it best "this wine has big shoulders"
The rest of the body is big and broad as well but all in balance. Smoke, game meats, white pepper, wet bay leaf. Special.
Bright, lively and prodigious....@romo said it best "this wine has big shoulders"
The rest of the body is big and broad as well but all in balance. Smoke, game meats, white pepper, wet bay leaf. Special.
Leather and Speck nose. Silk on the palate. Wonderful wine
Leather and Speck nose. Silk on the palate. Wonderful wine
Feb 5th, 2016
Vibrant with lots of bright fruit...still has a few decades left!
Vibrant with lots of bright fruit...still has a few decades left!
Dec 4th, 2015
Chave Hermitage Rouge '04
Chave Hermitage Rouge '04
Sep 20th, 2015
Pure and disciplined.
Pure and disciplined.
Aug 21st, 2015
This is drinking really well. I'm not sure if it makes truly old bones. Started with iron and meaty notes that opens to reveal black cherry flavors and aromas and subtle peppery notes. The feel of this wine is so elegant.
This is drinking really well. I'm not sure if it makes truly old bones. Started with iron and meaty notes that opens to reveal black cherry flavors and aromas and subtle peppery notes. The feel of this wine is so elegant.
Dec 7th, 2014