2021 Domaine Jean Louis Chave
Domaine Jean Louis Chave is one of the greatest names in wine, and today I’m pleased to offer their 2021 vintage. This historic estate has been cultivating the vines on the hill of Hermitage since 1481, and there is a reason that year in and year out they produce reference point wine worldwide.
The vintage of 2021 has provided a cooler growing season which resulted in a wine not as ripe and massive as we have seen for the last several vintages. Same great spice and texture, which reminds me of the 2017 version.
I love the style of these cooler vintages. While I have not yet tasted the white, I trust the cooler vintage produces a more subtle, classic style of wine. These are two wines fans of this domaine will not want to miss!
2021 Jean Louis Chave Hermitage Rouge
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
2021 Jean Louis Chave Hermitage Blanc
Tasted from multiple tanks and barrels, the 2021 Hermitage Blanc shows the fresher, elegant style of the vintage while still being nicely concentrated and rich. It has plenty of classic Chave rich, buttered stone fruits, medium to full body, a good spine of acidity, and a great finish. It will unquestionably be a beautiful Hermitage Blanc.
- Jeb Dunnuck, 94-96
2021 Domaine Jean Louis Chave Saint Joseph
A tasting of the various constituent lieux-dits revealed that the Bachesson parcel had a peppery side and its characteristic rose scent and an unmistakably granitic texture. The Chalaix lieu-dit was precise fine with no huge concentration but good balance. Lieu-dit Dardouille was looking promising with good weight and length. The finished blend of the domaine?s St-Joseph is likely to be neat precise and fresh with a distinct mineral side one to drink relatively young. There will be no separate bottling of Clos Florentin this year due to frost
- Decanter, 93
