| |
All Wines from Jean-Louis Chave
Inventory updated: Fri, May 30, 2025 04:02 PM cst
Our vintages of Jean-Louis Chave wine currently include: 1991, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
Flickinger Fine Wines' inventory of Jean-Louis Chave wine is listed below. We have an excellent and vast assortment of fine wines to choose from. If you do not see what you are looking for, give us a call and we can suggest another Jean-Louis Chave vintage or even another producer that we are sure you will enjoy.
| Producer |
Vint. |
Wine |
Price |
Qty |
Order |
| | Rhone Red |
| Jean-Louis Chave |
2000 |
Hermitage (12x750ML) 
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$6,188.98 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 96 (8/2014): More forward, open and textured, the 2000 Hermitage is an almost promiscuous effort that’s just hard to resist. According to Jean-Louis, this wine has never shut down and has always delivered plenty of pleasure. It has classic cassis and blackberry fruit, bacon fat, violets and herbs to go with a full-bodied, layered and seamless, if not voluptuous, style on the palate. I’d line bottles up for drinking over the coming couple of years, but it should hold nicely for upward of a decade.
JLL ****[*] (12/2015): Slight advance shows on the robe, which is mainly dark red. The nose has slight game airs in with its crunched raspberry aroma; it is inky, has dried flowers such as pot pourri in the air. The palate holds spicy stone fruits with forest influences towards the finish. There are Pinot associations here, with northern freshness - it has true freshness. The tannins are fine and tasty, have cool notes. Its gras is very beau; it is going well, is a pleasurable wine for gastronomy now. “It is growing its complexity with age; we are now selling some of this since there is so little other wine to sell - 2013 was 22 hl/ha, against 25 hl/ha in 2014 and 38 hl/ha in 2015,” Jean-Louis Chave.
WS 95 (7/2012): A sleeper vintage, this has ample flesh, with a smoldering tobacco leaf note weaving through the core of plum, blackberry and black currant fruit. Still shows broad cocoa and tar on the finish, along with nicely defined iron and incense. Has weight and cut. Thoroughly approachable now, but isn't going anywhere soon.—Non-blind Chave vertical (June 2012). Drink now through 2025.
VM 94+ (1/2003): Saturated ruby. Superripe aromas of blackberry, blueberry, clove, minerals and black licorice. Very ripe but precise and penetrating. At once lush and powerful; seamless but with terrific thrust. Black fruit, flint, spice and dark chocolate flavors offer considerable density and verve. Finishes with substantial noble tannins that arrive very late. Has all the elements for longevity. Give this 10 to 12 years before pulling the cork. This comes across as a bit denser than the young 2001 but not finer. The Chaves clearly did a superb job of harvesting in 2000. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2001 |
Hermitage (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,705.99 |
2 |
|
| |
WS 95 (8/2004): A brute right now, with a wall of bacony, coffee-tinged toast separating you from the core of blackberry and raspberry fruit. Great richness and texture here, with notes of tar, minerals, saddle leather and cocoa rippling through the finish. Mouthwatering acidity balances it all. Best from 2007 through 2020. 2,415 cases made.
VM 94+ (2/2005): Good bright medium ruby. Subtly complex, granitic nose melds cassis, blueberry, smoky gunflint, pepper, tar, bitter chocolate, roast coffee, leather, game and animal fur. Wonderfully juicy but currently rather folded in on itself. But this has brilliant acidity, precision and penetration on the palate. Almost painfully intense and wonderfully long and gripping on the back. Very firm and structured but not at all dry. This will need a good decade of additional cellaring.
WA 91-95 (6/2003): Tasting through the component parts of the 2001 Hermitage reveals what should be an Outstanding wine with a Burgundian-like finesse. The most elegant component emanates from Les Beaumes and Pelia, and the denser, thicker wines from Meal, l’Ermite, and Bessards. The wine will possess a dense ruby/purple color in addition to plenty of sweet cassis fruit, medium body, noticeably high tannin, and gorgeous purity as well as symmetry. It will be built along the lines of the 1996 rather than the 2000 or 1999. |
|
|
2003 |
Hermitage (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$5,517.97 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 100 (2/2006): The perfect 2003 Hermitage has acquired extraordinary minerality as well as definition since I first tasted it 12 months earlier. Its inky/purple color is accompanied by glorious aromas of creme de cassis, black cherries, licorice, crushed rocks, and flowers. Prodigiously rich and full-bodied yet elegant and fresh, this is a tour de force in winemaking. There are no overripe, scorched, pruny, fig-like notes in this extraordinary Hermitage. It will be drinkable young, yet evolve for 35-40+ years.
WS 99 (11/2006): The exotic fig and boysenberry aromas are captivating on their own, but this also delivers waves of dark plum and black currant fruit along with lilac, lavender, tar, roasted game, worn saddle leather and bittersweet cocoa. Then just when it seems like it's too much wine, the massive, loamy yet creamy finish pulls it all together with remarkable focus and lets the minerality sing. The greatest young red I have ever tasted. Drink now through 2036. 750 cases made.
VM 98 (2/2006): "Now we take the monster out of his cage," Jean-Louis warned me before pouring this. Inky, almost black in color. Elemental, hugely concentrated and powerful on the nose, which slowly unveils aromas of dark cherry liqueur, blackberry, cassis, espresso and a deep note of sweet tobacco. Impossibly rich and dense on the palate (the yields in 2003 were off by two-thirds), showing myriad dark fruit and bitter chocolate flavors, with a suggestion of tapenade and an intense licorice quality. Remarkably, this takes on a mineral tone on the finish, which has the effect of further drawing out the amazingly powerful finish. |
|
|
2006 |
Hermitage (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,880.98 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 96 (4/2009): Superior to the 2007, the 2006 Hermitage reminds me of Chave’s brilliant 1991. An incredibly subtle perfume of black raspberries, creme de cassis, camphor, and acacia flowers is followed by an elegant, concentrated wine with beautifully integrated acidity, tannin, wood, and alcohol. This seamless, gorgeously-proportioned, large-framed wine represents the definition of finesse, elegance, and terroir. It will be drinkable in several years, and should last for 20-25 years.
JD 96 (3/2011): As with the blanc, the 2006 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage is richer than its ’07 counterpart, featuring loads of smoked blackberry and cassis like fruits that are intermixed with smoked bacon, blood, flowers, dusty mineral aromas. There are touches of meat and leather with air, and this sports classic, textbook Hermitage aromatics. Full bodied on the palate, with a full, rich texture, loads of ripe, concentrated fruit, and a structured finish, this should be approachable in a handful of years, and drink well for 2 decades.
WS 95 (9/2009): Offers a remarkable combination of density and elegance, with a loamy, cocoa-driven backdrop to the crushed plum, black cherry, incense and iron notes. Long, silky tannins carry everything through the precise, mouthwatering finish. No skipping a beat here. Best from 2010 through 2021. 2,500 cases made.
VM 95 (2/2010): Deep ruby with a bright rim. Sexy aromas of red and dark fruit preserves, potpourri, allspice and smoky minerals. Juicy, extremely pure raspberry and mulberry flavors are complemented by notes of violet and rose pastille, with tangy minerality providing spine. A spherical, seamless wine that delivers a wallop of sweet fruit while maintaining admirable restraint and focus. Finishes with terrific cut and lingering spiciness. Manages to be powerful and wiry at the same time; this will live a long time on balance and energy.
JLL ***** (12/2008): 4 tanks - 25% each of the final wine - tasted one month before the mid-Jan 2009 bottling: 1) **** bright purple-red robe; suave, cherry red fruit aroma mixed with smoke or graphite. The palate is also suave, compact - this is a fruit-forward wine that ends tight and closed. There is latent vigour in this, more than meets the first glance. 19-21 years. 2) ****(*) quite a full red robe; bright, red fruits, raspberry fruit aroma, out and about. Mulled red fruits on a wide palate - this has a good line of attack, the fruit is persistent, has a lacing of tannin. “I like its character - it is a bit less powerful than tank no 1" J-L Chave. 3) ***** (more granite influence from this terroir) purple-violet robe; the nose is reserved, smoky, has plenty of intrinsic depth. Beau fruit on this, lovely, classy black fruit and violet in the flavour - really good harmony. Ends on interesting fullness, a note of game or gibier. 22 years. 4) ***** purple; good, rounded red fruits nose - nicely knit, a bit cautious for now. Has a black berry fruit attack with a good lacing of licorice and violet - this is structured, the finish is mineral. 23 years. OVERALL ***** Good elements - the theme of each note is a little different, indicating a fusion will be successful. Life to 2030-32, say. “2006 is a very terroir, very soil year - a more Protestant year than 2007 - it will make up into a very belle bouteille, with good class. It is tight-knit, straight and pure - more intellectual than 2007. I reckon it will show its hand in 10 years` time," Jean-Louis Chave. |
|
|
2007 |
Hermitage (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$6,032.95 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 95 (2/2009): From Peleat: A real fruit bomb, with sexy aromas of red berries, cherry and cassis. Lithe and precise on the palate, with tangy mineral lift and very good cut. From Beaume: Exotic, intensely floral aromas of violet, lavender and magnolia. Sweet red fruits and spices on the palate, with the floral quality repeating. Again from Beaume: Spicy and mineral-driven, with sappy red berry flavors and gentle tannins. Less wild than the previous barrel. From L'Hermite: Musky cherry and dark berry aromas are complicated by minerals and underbrush. Fleshy dark berry and cherry pit flavors cling nicely to the palate. From Meal: A very rich sample, offering powerful cherry and cassis scents and a suavely smoky mineral note. Sappy and broad on the palate, displaying sweet kirsch and smoked meat qualities. From Bessards: Deep, strongly perfumed bouquet evokes cherry, cassis, cured meat and licorice. Firm and chewy, with deep dark berry flavors and slow-building tannins. "This will provide the spine of the final wine," Chave told me. Again from Bessards: Hypnotic aromas of raspberry, candied cherry and incense, with a fresh lashing of minerals. Brisk and focused, with wonderfully pure red fruit flavors and silky texture. Impossibly pure and long on the finish. The final wine will be a riot of red and darker berry fruits, with excellent freshness and clarity.
WA 93-95 (4/2009): The red 2007 Hermitage is a candidate for the wine of the vintage. It is a blend of fruit from some of Hermitage’s finest vineyard sites (Les Bessards, Meal, l’Ermite, Peleat, and Les Beaumes). The latter two vineyards tend to offer finesse, elegance, and aromatic complexity without the power and richness found in Meal and Les Bessards. L’Ermite seems to provide an extraordinary liqueur of rocks and floral character. The 2007 production was very tiny because of serious crop-thinning as well as a strict selection process in the cellar. This should turn out to be a mid-90 point red Hermitage with loads of tannin, and a style not dissimilar from Chave’s 1996, but even better. Very structured with superb concentration, noble sweet tannins, and oodles of tar-infused creme de cassis, licorice, fig, and earth notes. It is a large-framed, big-boned effort with a finish that lasts nearly a minute |
|
|
2009 |
Hermitage (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$4,415.99 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 100 (12/2011): The greatest wines Chave has produced since 2003 are the two cuvees of 2009 Hermitage. The 2009 Hermitage exhibits a black/purple color along with a sumptuous nose of roasted meats, ground pepper, black currants, blackberry jam, and subtle smoke and licorice. The extraordinary bouquet is followed by a wine of extravagant intensity as well as tremendous focus and precision. While not as powerful as the blockbuster 2003, the amazing 2009 may turn out to be a modern day version of their magnificent 1990 (which is drinking incredibly well at present). Anyone who loves Hermitage and has a cold cellar should be lining up to get a few bottles of this beauty.
JLL ****** (7/2011): Various casks tasted from the different climats: Peleat (cask) ***** Full, bright robe; wide, expressive, waves of black cherry, griottes on nose. Clear tinkle on start of palate, with a muscular middle, has an aromatic, lasting finale. Lovely fruit, good balance. “this comes from the sand on Peleat, which means there is finesse," J-L Chave. Beaumes (cask) ****(*) Mainly dark robe; oily, rather reductive nose, with marked mineral influence, has tension. Dense, full palate - there is strength here, dark tannin, cocoa in the taste. Hermitage wanting to be southern, is a scaled, probing wine, really solid. Thorough is the word. Le Meal (cask) ****** Sweet notes on the nose, nutty, full red jam airs. Rich palate, a ball of gras richness with a cluster of tannin at the end, an aromatic aftertaste of red cherry , still tight. “a sunshine wine on limestone, so there is some tightness on the palate," J-L Chave. L`Hermite (cask) ****** Good, dark red colour; nutty, very careful, precise nose. Elegant red fruit within. Clear lines along the palate, glinting fruit: this is more Burgundian than the other climats, draws in tannins and chewy matter from half way. Offers fine fruit and tannin, finishes reserved, closed. Elegant wine that can become silky, excellent. The best of the bunch so far. Les Bessards (cask) ****** Full, dark red. Mineral, ripe red jam aroma, soft licorice notes, unusual bouquet. Pebbly black fruit with breathing intensity and fullness, muscled late stages; this is long and hermetic, complete wine. Licorice on the aftertaste. Just ahead of L`Hermite in quality. “Very lean, tight. Bessards is more pure, Meal more showy this year. Bessards has always been reserved like this," J-L Chave. OVERALL ****** Two key constituents this year for its class - L`Hermite and Les Bessards; their influence will drive the wine ultimately. At first the fat richness of Meal will show up strongly. Heading for a complex future.
VM 96 (4/2012): Tasted in four components that were to be blended at the end of November, 2011: #1: Deep cherry and dark berries on the nose and palate, with slow-mounting spiciness and serious finishing cling and power. #2: Wilder and more pungent, offering intense floral-accented red and dark berry qualities and notes of olive and candied licorice. This is mostly Meal, according to Chave. #3: Deep, smoky and aromatic, displaying an array of dark berry and spice qualities and a strong potpourri note. Juicy and focused on the finish, with the dark fruit note repeating. #4: Stunning aromas of violet, rose, black raspberry and cola, with a blast of Asian spices on the back. Juicy, mineral-driven and pure, with excellent finishing clarity and lingering sweetness. This should be a stunner. |
|
|
2010 |
Hermitage (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$5,126.98 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 100 (12/2012): Pure perfection, the 2010 Hermitage reminds Jean-Louis Chave of their 1990. It appears to be a richer, fresher example of what I remember the 1990 tasting like in 1992. The wine exhibits an opaque purple color along with an extraordinary bouquet of sweet blackberry fruit intermixed with creme de cassis, lead pencil shavings, acacia flowers, bouquet garni, meat and crushed rocks. Full-bodied and stunningly rich with laser-like precision, this is a powerful, massive yet exceptionally well-balanced wine that should be forgotten for a decade and drunk over the following 30-40 years.
JLL ****** (11/2012): (1st tank, pre-assembly) dark red. Close-knit, deep mass, solid bouquet. There is a lot on the palate - it builds up big scale tannins, has a roasted, thorough heart - and will live a very long time - 36 years. (2nd tank) notably ripe fruit, really ripe fruit air - red fruit that is mulled, shows fates as well. The palate is broad, muscular, ptofound, gives a spark of late tannin, It is very dense, but also ends with grip, crunch. 31 years. (3rd tank) dark; this has a lot of Meal, so it gives a full red berry, has solid tannins, a sunny and layered totality. The nose is compact, deep, shows the density of jam in its fruit aroma. The best so far. Storming. 36 years. (4th tank) powdery air. This is Meal/Beaumes and the nose has a raspberry. Flinty mix. The palate is stylish, has an intricate mystery, is smoky, fresh, and long. The finish is sizeable. Intellectual wine. 33 years. (5th tank) dark red; Bessards content here - compact nose, shows licorice, smoked bacon. The palate is steely - has real good grip and carry. Gusto here, proper fruit, has great spine - Bessards saves the world! OVERALL ****** this is going right on track, as per previous expectations. It is due for bottling in Jan/Feb 2013. The wine works on all fronts - depth, persistence, pockets of fragrance, is very long, nuanced. Très Grand Vin. 2049-2055
VM 96-97 (4/2013): Inky ruby. Intensely perfumed, heady bouquet displays an array of candied dark fruits, floral pastille and spicecake aromas. Powerful cherry and raspberry preserve flavors stain the palate and show remarkable depth, with bright acidity adding lift and cut. Finishes with bright, spice-accented cherry and candied licorice flavors and superb persistence. |
|
|
2012 |
Hermitage (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,476.98 |
2 |
|
| |
VM 95-97 (3/2014): Presented as components from four different barrels: #1, from Beaume: Exotic scents of candied licorice, dark berries and smoky Indian spices. Fleshy and broad on entry, then tighter in the middle, displaying superb depth to its bitter cherry and floral pastille flavors. #2, from Peleat: Explosive red fruit and potpourri aromas, with a bright mineral overtone. Silky and sweet, offering vibrant raspberry and cherry compote flavors and a touch of bitter chocolate. The red fruit note echoes strongly on the back half. #3, from Meal: Fleshier and rounder than the first two components, offering plush dark berry and violet flavors that coat the palate. Chewy tannins build on the finish and fold smoothly into the wine's dense fruit. #4, from Bessards: Emphatic mineral and dark berry aromas pick up a sexy floral note and a hint of cola. Sappy, penetrating and sharply focused, displaying an impressive array of red fruit and floral qualities and strong finishing spiciness. Jean-Louis Chave told me he thinks this wine will be "classic Hermitage with an emphasis on fruit, not structure, but not lacking in structure at all--just compared to, say, 2010 and 2005."
JLL ****[*] (1/2015): Bottled last week: dark red. Mulberry/raspberry fruit aroma with a nice freedom, a low-key savoury and bacon backdrop, a note of crème de menthe. The palate favours elegance over strength, holds tangy, clear dark fruit, and there is good cut in the tannins. There are pockets of pepper that remind me of 2001. It moves clearly to the finish, where a ball of gras richness awaits. The clarity can expand over time. The fruit is tasty, and the aftertaste has a fruit lozenge, appealing nature combined with spice. It is showing a very good first flush of youth. “It has a supple side to it, no rusticity - it is both fine and supple; I associate it, like you, with 2001, and it is Burgundian in spirit,” Jean-Louis Chave. From 2021 for the second phase.
WA 94-97 (12/2014): Looking at the 2012 Hermitage, which is still resting in barrels and getting ready to be bottled, it’s a much more classic, easy to read Hermitage that has lots of ripe, sweet fruit in its full-bodied, concentrated, textured profile. It has copious sweet blackberry and cassis fruit, violet and serious granite-like minerality, superb mid-palate depth and a focused, structured finish. It’s a beautiful, classy 2012 that will have 20-25+ years of longevity. |
|
|
2014 |
Hermitage (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,424.97 |
1 |
|
| |
JLL *****[*] (12/2015): Fine, clear-cut, a little tight. A northern wine, indeed. It will be best left until around ten years’ old, to permit a gain in flesh, content, and to allow fusion of content and acidity. It lacks the sunshine depth of Meal from the more sunny years this vintage. “2014 is a year for the best terroirs; there are small wines and good wines this year - the usually not great wines aren’t good at all this year,” Jean-Louis Chave.
WS 96 (10/2017): This starts strong, with warm ganache, steeped fig and crushed blackberry flavors, then gains steam, picking up smoldering charcoal, bay leaf and juniper accents as the wine drives and expands through the finish. Offers a long echo of graphite, with the fruit keeping pace. Very impressive for the vintage. Best from 2020 through 2040. 2,500 cases made.
VM 95-97 (3/2016): Tasted in components: #1, from Peleat: Vibrant red and dark berry character, along with intense floral and mineral nuances and silky texture. #2, from Beaume: Heady, smoke- and spice- accented dark berry and floral pastille qualities, plus a round, supple texture and repeating floral character on the back half. #3, from l'Ermite: More structured and powerful, showing intense dark fruit character and notes of olive and licorice that build with air. #4, from Le Meal: Exotic spices and candied flowers on the nose, along with bright red and dark berry qualities. Sappy and focused, displaying excellent depth and no excess weight. #5, from Bessards: Gorgeous, expressive floral pastille, incense and ripe dark berry scents and flavors. Weighty yet lithe, showing excellent focus and building sweetness. The final blend should be a beauty, combining dense, sweet red and dark berry fruit character and the freshness to buffer it. Josh Raynolds. |
|
|
2015 |
Hermitage (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$6,657.98 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 98-100 (4/2018): Not yet bottled, the 2015 Hermitage has perfection written all over it and reminds me of the 2010. Graphite, charcoal, liquid rock, and sensationally pure crème de cassis notes all soar from the glass of this full-bodied, concentrated, opulent 2015. This is a big, sexy beast of a Hermitage, yet it has the classic minerality, purity, and balance shown by just about every wine made from this estate. Forget bottles for 4-5 years, count yourself lucky, and enjoy over the following 4-5 decades.
WA 98-100 (12/2017): After tasting several intermediate blends that will ultimately be combined in some proportion to create the 2015 Hermitage, I would not be surprised to see the final result achieve perfection. Although massively ripe and concentrated, there is still a feeling of balance and elegance in the wines that I fully expect to carry over into the final product. As the blending process isn’t complete, Jean-Louis warned that it was too early to say if there would be a Cuvee Cathelin, which is typically an Outstanding parcel that, for some reason, doesn’t work in the rest of the blend.
VM 97 (4/2018): Youthful purple color. Mineral-accented dark berries, star anise, cola, olive and pungent flowers on the explosively perfumed nose. Offers impressively concentrated, expansive flavors of black raspberry, spicecake, smoked meat and candied flowers that are complicated by licorice candy and dark chocolate notes that sneak in on the back half. Sweet, sappy and precise on the floral- and dark fruit-driven finish, which shows Outstanding clarity and round, harmonious tannins that build smoothly and steadily. Josh Raynolds.
JLL ****** (10/2016): 1) (Peleat, 228-litre cask) ***** dark robe. Black cherry features in a deep nose with rolling layers of aroma, is more deep than usual. There is a cool fruit debut to the palate, comes with sparkling clarity, reaches out well with a sure hand. There is a fine grain crunch from the tannins. It is well balanced, has ace juice within, fine grip, great freshness. “The fruit is silky, gourmand,” Jean-Louis Chave. 27 years. |
|
|
2015 |
Hermitage (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,047.95 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 98-100 (4/2018): Not yet bottled, the 2015 Hermitage has perfection written all over it and reminds me of the 2010. Graphite, charcoal, liquid rock, and sensationally pure crème de cassis notes all soar from the glass of this full-bodied, concentrated, opulent 2015. This is a big, sexy beast of a Hermitage, yet it has the classic minerality, purity, and balance shown by just about every wine made from this estate. Forget bottles for 4-5 years, count yourself lucky, and enjoy over the following 4-5 decades.
WA 98-100 (12/2017): After tasting several intermediate blends that will ultimately be combined in some proportion to create the 2015 Hermitage, I would not be surprised to see the final result achieve perfection. Although massively ripe and concentrated, there is still a feeling of balance and elegance in the wines that I fully expect to carry over into the final product. As the blending process isn’t complete, Jean-Louis warned that it was too early to say if there would be a Cuvee Cathelin, which is typically an Outstanding parcel that, for some reason, doesn’t work in the rest of the blend.
VM 97 (4/2018): Youthful purple color. Mineral-accented dark berries, star anise, cola, olive and pungent flowers on the explosively perfumed nose. Offers impressively concentrated, expansive flavors of black raspberry, spicecake, smoked meat and candied flowers that are complicated by licorice candy and dark chocolate notes that sneak in on the back half. Sweet, sappy and precise on the floral- and dark fruit-driven finish, which shows Outstanding clarity and round, harmonious tannins that build smoothly and steadily. Josh Raynolds.
JLL ****** (10/2016): 1) (Peleat, 228-litre cask) ***** dark robe. Black cherry features in a deep nose with rolling layers of aroma, is more deep than usual. There is a cool fruit debut to the palate, comes with sparkling clarity, reaches out well with a sure hand. There is a fine grain crunch from the tannins. It is well balanced, has ace juice within, fine grip, great freshness. “The fruit is silky, gourmand,” Jean-Louis Chave. 27 years. |
|
|
2016 |
Hermitage (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,986.95 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 97 (9/2019): Inky ruby. Highly precise, mineral-accented black/blue fruit, exotic spice, olive paste and incense aromas pick up hints of smokiness and candied licorice as the wine opens up. Seamless and penetrating on the palate, offering urgent blueberry, cherry preserve, spicecake and floral pastille flavors and a strong jolt of smoky minerality. Deepens steadily on the strikingly long, penetrating finish, which features smooth, interwoven tannins and resonating florality. Josh Raynolds.
JD 96-99 (12/2018): I was able to taste the 2016 Hermitage from three separate tanks which are blended prior to bottling. All three samples showed brilliant purity of fruit, full body, a forward, seamless, elegant texture, and classic building minerality. This is haute couture at its finest and is pure class that could come from nowhere else. As with most 2016s, it's going to be relatively accessible in its youth, yet this is one Hermitage that's not going to hit maturity for another 8-10 years and will keep for three decades.
WA 96-98 (10/2018): Still mostly in separate components, the 2016 Hermitage nevertheless looks sensational. Les Beaumes was very pretty and red fruited, with silky tannins (94 - 96). Le Meal was putting itself forward as plush and velvety, with flowers, crushed stone and ripe fruit (95 - 97). A combined sample of les Bessards and l'Hermite showed great, granite-derived structure allied to licorice and cassis (96 - 98).
JS 97-98 (8/2018): A wealth of floras with spiced dark chocolate, peppery notes, graphite, dark stones and grilled meats. There’s a very concentrated core of red and black fruit on the palate, weighing deep into the middle with super fine yet strong tannins wrapping up the wine. There is also enduring red-fruit freshness emerging into the finish. This is a great Hermitage that will deliver incredible age potential and enjoy an esteemed life in bottle. Barrel sample. |
|
|
2017 |
Hermitage (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,342.97 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2018 |
Hermitage (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,760.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2019 |
Hermitage (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,704.99 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 97-99 (2/2022): A potential candidate for the wine of the vintage, the 2019 Hermitage is a massive, full-bodied, yet mineral-laced and undeniably classic wine from this estate. All of the components showed incredibly well, with the Le Méal offering classic sexiness, the Hermite being straight and focused, and the Bessards just as good as any Syrah out there. It shows the ripeness of the vintage, yet the purity of fruit is incredible. It’s another magical wine in an incredible series of awesome Hermitage from this family. |
|
|
2020 |
Hermitage (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,476.97 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2021 |
Hermitage (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,816.97 |
4 |
|
| |
|
|
2022 |
Hermitage (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,926.99 |
3 |
|
| |
|
|
1991 |
Hermitage Cuvee Cathelin |
$14,000 |
4 |
|
| |
JD 98 (10/2023): Made by Gerard Chave with help from his son Jean-Louis, the 1991 Hermitage Cuvée Cathelin is an incredible treat to taste today, now at 31 years after the grapes were harvested. As always, this is a tiny cuvée that's pulled from the Bessards lieu-dit on the western side of this magical south-facing slope. Fully mature and clearly at its peak, it's considerably richer and more layered than the classic Hermitage and has an almost seemingly Burgundian elegance and nuance in its red and black fruits, flowers, rose petals, crushed stone, and subtly gamey nuances. Remarkably complex, it's medium to full-bodied on the palate and is flawlessly balanced, has resolved tannins, and a gorgeous finish. This heavenly, singular Hermitage isn't going to get better, but it will certainly have a gradual evolution going forward. As Jean-Louis has often told me, the wines don't exist until the bottles are opened, so if you have these, come up with a special occasion and pop a cork.
VM 95+ (7/1999): Full ruby-red. Knockout aromas of cassis, roast coffee, bacon fat and minerals. Incredibly sweet in the mouth, but with brilliant clarity and delineation of flavor. Superripe yet shapely and light on its feet. Endless, fruit-driven aftertaste. Tannins and acids are covered by sheer material. An extraordinary achievement, even for this very good and somewhat underrated vintage.
WA 98 (4/2002): The 1991 is a sleeper. I suspect many readers have forgotten how spectacular this vintage was in the northern Rhone, particularly Cote Rotie. |
|
|
2014 |
St. Joseph (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,022.95 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 93 (7/2017): (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. Josh Raynolds. |
|
|
2015 |
St. Joseph (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$636.95 |
2 |
|
| |
| JD 94 (1/2018): There are two Saint Joseph releases in 2015, and Jean-Louis finally decided to bottle his Le Clos cuvee separately. Hats off to him as both wines are up with the crème de la crème of the appellation. Looking at the classic 2015 Saint Joseph, this beauty offers loads of kirsch, currants, and blackberry fruits intermixed with more smoked meats, cedar, and minerality. It’s a rich, powerful, mineral-laced Saint Joseph to drink over the coming 10-15 years. |
|
|
2016 |
St. Joseph (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$437.95 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 94 (9/2019): Opaque ruby. Powerful, mineral-tinged aromas of blackberry, boysenberry, candied flowers, olive and licorice, along with a smoky overtone that builds in the glass. Stains the palate with sweet, energetic black/blue fruit, violet pastille and spicecake flavors that show outstanding purity and mineral-drive. The spice and floral notes repeat emphatically on a strikingly long, lively finish that's shaped by velvety, even tannins. Josh Raynolds. |
|
|
2017 |
St. Joseph (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$611.95 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2019 |
St. Joseph (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$754.95 |
2 |
|
| |
| JD 94 (2/2022): Both Saint Josephs from Chave are brilliant, and the estate 2019 Saint Joseph offers classic blackberry fruits as well as peppery, violet, and smoky bacon fat. It has a ripe, concentrated style yet brings plenty of tannins and has a firm, age-worthy feel. |
|
|
2019 |
St. Joseph Offerus (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$469.99 |
7 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
St. Joseph Offerus (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$469.99 |
7 |
|
| |
JD 91 (5/2023): All Syrah brought up in used barrels, the 2020 Saint Joseph Offerus is a classic Northern Rhône with its darker berry fruits, peppery herbs, violets, and gamey nuances. With beautiful ripeness (not underripe or overripe), medium body, nicely integrated acidity, and fine tannins, it shows the quality of this incredible vintage and is well worth seeking out. It's terrific today and is perfect for enjoying over the coming 7-8 years or so.
VM 93 (12/2022): Saturated magenta. Smoke-accented aromas of cherry, blackberry, violet and black pepper, along with a smoky mineral touch that builds in the glass. Chewy and focused in the mouth, offering nicely concentrated, spice-laced and appealingly sweet black and blue fruit flavors with a touch of licorice. The peppery quality comes back strong on a long, sappy finish that's shaped by steadily building tannins. Josh Raynolds. |
|
| | Rhone White |
| Jean-Louis Chave |
2008 |
Hermitage Blanc
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$490.97 |
1 |
|
| |
JLL ****[*] (6/2011): Lustrous pale yellow robe with a fine aspect about it. Has an oak-forward nose, which is fine, so toasted; there is low-key white fruit behind, a suggestion of lavender, light herbs, spice touches. The palate delivers fine fruit in a pebbly texture - this is not at all unctuous, and reflects therefore the weather of the vintage and the ripening cycle. The palate is oak-flecked, holds a dried fruits flavour, and there is a gradual emergence of flan towards the finish - a little gras. There is a spiced grip on the finish, the length is fresh, breezy, wax and flower influenced. This does not show overt gras, is a fine style of wine. From 2015. Patience will be rewarded.
WS 95 (11/2011): Lush yet precise, with green tea, honeysuckle and quinine notes rippling through the core of green plum, pear and Jonagold apple fruit. The finish has mouthwatering minerality and subtle persistence. Seamless and long. Best from 2012 through 2022. 500 cases made.
VM 94 (2/2011): Pale gold. Deeply scented aromas of pit fruits and orange marmalade, with hints of smoke and botanical herbs adding complexity. Densely packed but surprisingly lithe in the mouth, offering subtly sweet pit fruit flavors and a solid mineral jolt, as well as mounting spiciness and a strong floral quality. The minerality adds lift and cut to a very long and incisive finish. Chave thinks this will close down soon and be a long ager.
WA 92 (2/2011): Consequently, there is little of the 2008 Hermitage Blanc (which was scheduled to be bottled the week after my visit), but it is one of the finest 2008s produced in the Northern Rhone. The wine offers up scents of almond paste, brioche, white currants and quince as well as a full-bodied, concentrated personality displaying good acidity and a more forward style than either the 2009 or 2007. It is best drunk in its first 7-8 years of life. |
|
|
2011 |
Hermitage Blanc (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,014.98 |
1 |
|
| |
JLL ***** (1/2015): Yellow robe. Varnish, soaked white plums, dried fruits airs combine with verbena, tilleul (linden), brioche baked bread, aniseed, spice and Comte cheese. There is plenty of potential on the nose. The palate bears generous gras richness and body in a rolled up, withdrawn wine. It is elegant inside. The finale is lucid, dentelle, the aftertaste bringing forward aniseed, some licorice. The tightness on the finish is impressive. Come back to this when it is 12 to 15 years’ old for all its possibilities. “It is more serious than the 2012,” Jean-Louis Chave.
WS 97 (11/2014): Still a bit reserved aromatically, with hints of orange blossom and crème anglaise peeking out, this features a captivating display of racy quinine, honeysuckle and white peach flavors inlaid into a rich core of brioche, Cavaillon melon, white truffle, smoked almond and heather honey. Incredibly long. Hard to resist now, but be patient. Best from 2019 through 2030. 1,250 cases made.
WA 96 (12/2013): Just bottled, the 2011 Hermitage Blanc also shows the richer side of Hermitage with its full-bodied, voluptuously textured and up-front profile. Honeysuckle, licorice, toast, citrus oil and liquid mineral-like qualities all emerge from this beauty, and it stays beautifully fresh and focused on the palate. A blend of mostly Marsanne, yet with roughly 20% Roussanne, from the l’Ermite, Les Rocoules, Maison Blanche and Peleat lieux-dits, this substantial white should be consumed over the coming 2-4 years, or forgotten for a decade or more. It will have over two decades of longevity.
VM 95 (3/2014): Light yellow. Intense scents of nectarine, pear skin and lemon curd, with complicating floral and mineral notes gaining power with air. Broad and fleshy but tightly focused, offering vibrant orchard and pit fruit flavors and a refreshingly bitter note of citrus pith. Dry and nervy on the penetrating, powerful. sharply focused finish, which leaves sexy honeysuckle and ginger notes behind. I suspect that this wine will age gracefully on its tension and balance. Josh Raynolds. |
|
|
2012 |
Hermitage Blanc (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,873.98 |
1 |
|
| |
WS 97 (11/2015): A stunner from the start, showing distinctive depth to the creamed mango, white peach and heather flavors, this maintains superior precision and definition as the singed almond, chamomile, salted butter and ginger notes fill in. Glazed pear, elderflower honey and beeswax details chime in on the extremely long finish. Enjoyable now, but needs serious cellaring to show its full potential. Best from 2016 through 2037. 500 cases made.
WA 96 (12/2014): Much more open, fleshy and sexy, the 2012 Hermitage Blanc was just bottled a month prior to this tasting. Coming from l’Ermite, Les Rocoules, Maison Blanche and Peleat lieux-dits, it’s always a rough blend of 80% Marsanne and 20% Roussanne that’s aged in barrel. Loaded with notions of honeysuckle, orange marmalade, powered rock, buttered citrus and green almond, it’s full-bodied, rich, upfront and fruit loaded. While I think it will be a relatively accessible early in its life, it has the concentration to hold for two decades.
JLL ****[*] (1/2015): In the white fruits. The palate starts stylishly, attractively; it is open for now. It holds a good underlay of gras richness - it has foundation under the floating appeal. This is nicely weighted, isn’t very big. Charming and stylish, the length is good. Can be drunk now, but will be very interesting from 2020. 14°. “It is a classic vintage - it is quite supple with the bitter tints that give freshness, a rich but not heavy wine,” Jean-Louis Chave. Bottled Sept 2014.
VM 94 (2/2015): Pale gold. Potent, mineral-accented honeysuckle, citrus and orchard fruit aromas show remarkable freshness and lift. Tightly wound, energetic lemon curd and green apple flavors flesh out with air to display excellent depth, with no excess fat. Finishes on a suave floral note, with an insistent mineral quality and wonderful focus and length. Josh Raynolds. |
|
|
2014 |
Hermitage Blanc (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,873.97 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 95 (7/2017): Light yellow-gold. Vibrant, mineral-accented citrus and pit fruits, honey and nougat on the intensely perfumed nose, joined by a suave floral nuance. Shows superb depth as well as vivacity, offering sappy orange, pear and nectarine flavors supported a firm spine of smoky minerality. The floral and mineral elements come back strong on the bright, sharply focused, extremely long finish, which leaves a candied lemon zest note behind. Josh Raynolds.
JLL ****[*] (12/2015): This is a very good vintage for the white. The wine has abundant style, and inner depth, length. I would not be surprised that this emerges in bottle as a ***** wine when tasted at six years’ old, for example. |
|
|
2017 |
Hermitage Blanc (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,707.97 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2018 |
Hermitage Blanc (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,469.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2019 |
Hermitage Blanc (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,707.97 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 98+ (2/2022): 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. |
|
|
2020 |
Hermitage Blanc (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,055.98 |
4 |
|
| |
|
|
2021 |
Hermitage Blanc (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,790.98 |
3 |
|
| |
|
|