2021 Jean Louis Chave Hermitage Rouge

The refined 2021 L'Hermitage was cropped at 37 hL/ha and bottled in early September 2023. It is laced with finely delineated orange rind, raspberry, red cherry, red plum, dried herbs, pencil shavings, black cherry, crushed violet and cedar. Showing excellent tension on the medium-bodied palate, the 2021 brings it home with clarity and freshness. That being said, it won't be as long lived as either the 2020 or 2022. Vinous 94

As is usually the case I was able to taste the new vintage in its individual components which is an incredible lesson in the terroir of Hermitage and I continue to believe this is one of the most educational tastings I do every year. All of the samples for the 2021 Hermitage rated between 93 and 95 and this should be a classic more medium-bodied elegant yet still substantial Hermitage. All of the single parcels show classic textbook characteristics and possess ripe tannins and outstanding purity of fruit. I suspect this wine will be in the mold of the 2014 possibly the 2004. It should benefit from just short-term cellaring and have two decades of longevity.  Jeb Dunnuck 93-95

A tasting of the constituent lieux-dits before blending was as instructive as ever. Péléat was smooth silky and red-fruited with good acidity; Beaumes slightly meatier a little less concentrated than a typical year but with good tannic drive; L'Ermite was serious dry and mineral; Bessards very strict with tight rigid tannins. The final blend is likely to produce a structural rather than generous style of Hermitage with tannins that will need a long time in bottle to settle. This will be ascetic in youth then complex and textural with age.  Decanter 96