Domaine Jean Louis Chave - Hermitage Blanc 2022
Price: $379.96
Sale Price: $325.00
| Producer | Domaine Jean Louis Chave |
| Country | France |
| Region | Rhone |
| Varietal | Other White Grapes |
| Vintage | 2022 |
| Sku | 603373 |
| Size | 750ml |
Steeply rising to a height over 1,100ft above the river below, Hermitage looms over the surrounding landscape. Blessed with a southern exposure its terroir is dominated by granite soils on the west that link it to the soils of the Massif Central to its west. On its eastern edge one finds deposits similar to the soils in the Alps.
Despite Hermitage's visual size what's planted is relatively small, just 136ha total. Yet it has a diverse soil makeup and therefore a number of defined sub plots are established. Which brings us to what makes the Hermitage of Domaine Jean-Louis Chave so great. Be it red or white Hermitage, any bottling by Domaine Jean-Louis will always represent the entirety of the hill. He skillfully blends his parcels together making a more complete wine in the process. As he says, he makes "Hermitage not Chave."
His whites exemplify what Hermitage blanc should be, wines of richness without heaviness. They are as Jean-Louis says when referencing dishes to pair them with "..wines for the richness, poularde, cream." Like his reds, they have a capacity to age and gain complexity. On our last visit in his cellar tasting the 2004 and 1971 Jean-Louis told us he loves his Hermitage blancs with morels in particular.
His Syrah from Hermitage is certainly one of the greatest reds in the world in any vintage. A visit to his Domaine will reveal how each plot (vinified separately), incredible as they are when tasted on their own, become even more when they all play a role in the blend.
Wine Spectator: 97 Points
Crushed apple, yellow plum and warm baking spices make a seductive introduction, followed by a plush, full and ripe palate. Ripe, with streaks of saline and zesty acidity that nicely offset the lushness. Bitter chamomile and zesty, chalky mineral details give a jolt of structure and contrast to the long, streaming finish, flecked with warm hay, smoke and fresh flowers. Incredibly dense, complex and powerful, this is just beginning to unfurl. Marsanne and Roussanne. Drink now through 2038.—K.B.
Jeb Dunnuck: 96-98 Points
I continue to think that this estate makes one of the greatest white wines in the world. Looking at the 2022 Hermitage Blanc, it was harvested starting on the 23rd of August and is still resting in a mix of barrel and tank. I was able to taste through multiple lieux-dits, all of which were impressive, with the Péléat bringing the power and opulence and Les Rocoules and L'Ermite bringing more structure and precision. This will be a full-bodied, deep, concentrated wine that will have decades of life. In a time when many refuse to take any risks and are abandoning any hope of true greatness in wine, it's such a relief to have a producer like this continue to make concentrated, powerful, utterly classic and singular wines. Bravo.
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