Jean-Louis Chave Sélection Côtes-du-Rhône Mon Cœur 2013 "Deep ruby. Spicy red and dark berries on the perfumed nose, with hints of licorice and dried flowers adding complexity. Sappy black raspberry and floral pastille flavors spread out and gain sweetness with air. Combines richness and vivacity smoothly, finishing with gentle tannic grip, very good persistence and an echo of fresh flowers." 90 Josh Raynolds, Vinous
Jean-Louis Chave Sélection Crozes-Hermitage Silène 2012 "Bright violet color. High-pitched red fruit and floral aromas are complicated by smoky minerals and white pepper. On the palate, juicy, sharply focused black raspberry and bitter cherry flavors gain flesh and weight with air. Shows excellent clarity and mineral cut on the finish, which is shaped by silky, slow-building tannins." 91 Josh Raynolds, Vinous
Jean-Louis Chave Sélection Saint-Joseph Céleste 2013
"Aged in older demi-muids. Light yellow. Vibrant citrus and orchard fruits on the intensely perfumed nose. Shows very good clarity and lift to its juicy orange and fresh fig flavors, with a hint of pear skin adding a bitter touch. Finishes with building spiciness and minerality, leaving a trace of succulent herbs behind."
91 Josh Raynolds, Vinous
Jean-Louis Chave Sélection Saint-Joseph Offerus 2012
"Opaque ruby. Smoky blueberry, olive paste and violet aromas are lifted and sharpened by a spicy nuance. Pliant, ripe and broad on entry, then more taut in the mid-palate, offering sappy black and blue fruit flavors that put on weight with aeration. Shows excellent clarity and a seductive floral note on the finish, which features supple tannins and a hint of candied flowers."
91 Josh Raynolds, Vinous
Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Saint-Joseph 2012
"Bright violet color. Explosive aromas of black and blue fruits, smoky Indian spices and minerals, with a suave floral quality in the background. Fleshy and expansive on the palate, but with excellent clarity and spicy lift to its blackberry and licorice flavors. The dark fruit element recurs on the long, seamless finish, which is framed by supple tannins that fold smoothly into the wine's lush fruit."93 Robert M. Parker, Jr., The Wine Advocate
Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Saint-Joseph 2003
"One of the finest Saint-Josephs I have ever tasted is Chave’s 2003. Revealing gorgeously thick, rich notes of raspberries, crème de cassis, licorice, black truffles, and spice box, it boasts superlative fruit, a voluptuous texture, medium to full body, and silky tannin."
93 Robert M. Parker, Jr., The Wine Advocate
Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage Blanc 2012
"Much more open, fleshy and sexy, the 2012 Hermitage Blanc was just bottled a month prior to this tasting. Coming from the 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. This was another terrific tasting with Jean-Louis Chave, and this family-run estate continues to fire on all cylinders."
96 Jeb Dunnuck, The Wine Advocate
Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage Rouge 2012
"Looking at his Hermitages, the 2012 Hermitage appears to be brilliant. Tasted in its individual components (which all rated between 94-98), all of the samples showed the vintage purity and suppleness with classic aromatics, full-bodied richness and serious purity and length on the finish. While slightly more supple and rounded than the 2011, it should evolve along a similar trajectory and have two decades of evolution (and be enjoyable for a large portion of that time frame as well). One of the highlight visits during my time spent working in the Northern Rhône, Jean-Louis Chave (who is often called “The Pope of Hermitage” by others) makes some of the most profound wines in the world today. As he says, “We don’t make Chave, we make Hermitage,” and there are few things more educational, when trying to understand this storied appellation, then to taste through each of Jean-Louis’s different Hermitage plots from barrel. The striking minerality and austere cut of the L’Ermite parcel is in stark contrast to the voluptuousness and texture that’s found in the Le Méal (which is just down the slope); and both are completely different from the silky, polished and perfumed Peleat lieu-dit. Despite the notoriety here, Jean-Louis remains one of the most humble and straight-talking winemakers out there, and his wines deserve a place in any wine lover’s cellar." 96-98 Jeb Dunnuck, The Wine Advocate
Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage Rouge 2004
"The first vintage that seems approachable now, this pumps out a very friendly core of steeped red currant, blackberry cherry and plum fruit, with exuberant acidity, mouthwatering cocoa and pain d'épices notes followed by a long, incense- and black tea-infused finish. Has the stuffing and balance to age further, but thoroughly delicious now."
96 James Molesworth, Wine Spectator |
