Jean-Louis Chave
I’m delighted to share that I’ve received my 2022 allocation from the legendary Domaine Jean-Louis Chave. The Hermitage wines need little introduction—they are among the world’s greatest, and 2022 is no exception. Vins Rare is especially thrilled to have been allocated, for only the second time, the single-vineyard Saint-Joseph Clos Florentin. For those who follow the Chave wines, this one is not to be missed.
I first met Jean-Louis in 1997, just as he was stepping into his role at the helm of the family estate, freshly returned from his studies at UC Davis. I still remember picturing him that first day in class, introducing himself: “Hello, I’m Jean-Louis Chave from Mauves.” Nearly thirty years later, I look back on that meeting and the many extraordinary bottles I’ve enjoyed since.
If there is one name that truly defines a family’s bond to a single vineyard, it is the Chave family’s connection to Hermitage. Their roots trace back to 1481, when the family first began planting vines in what is now known as Saint-Joseph. More than five centuries later, Jean-Louis Chave—the sixteenth generation—continues to guide the domaine to ever greater heights, each vintage a testament to patience, precision, and an unwavering respect for the land.
Jean-Louis’s meticulous, hands-on approach to farming and winemaking has elevated Domaine Jean-Louis Chave to its rightful place among the world’s very best. Year after year, the brilliance of what he achieves in Hermitage is nothing short of breathtaking. These wines possess immense power and structure, capable of gracefully aging for fifty years or more, yet they never lose their sense of polish, poise, and elegance. It’s that rare balance that defines true greatness.
While Hermitage remains the benchmark for the Northern Rhône, it is perhaps Jean-Louis’s quiet revolution in Saint-Joseph that most clearly marks his tenure. In particular, the revival of Clos Florentin—a vineyard the family acquired in 2011—stands as a shining example of his vision. Through patient restoration and careful replanting, he has brought this historic site back to its former glory, crafting wines that now stand shoulder to shoulder with his Hermitage bottlings.
Notes of violet, chocolate, iris and flowers emerge from the 2022 Saint-Joseph, a medium to full-bodied, sweet and sappy wine with a concentrated, structured palate framed by an assertive tannic frame, culminating in a long, introverted finish. It derives from vines planted on gneiss and granite soils.
- Wine Advocate, 92
The 2022 Saint-Joseph Le Clos Florentin reveals a somber, complex bouquet of spices, iris, violet, dark berries and mulberries mingled with delicate notes of chocolate. Medium to full-bodied, structured and compact, it's rich and opulent with a vibrant, perfumed mid-palate framed by velvety, youthful tannins, concluding with a long, mineral and coniferous forest-inflected finish. Currently introverted, which is typical at this stage, it requires time to integrate its élevage and fully adjust to its recent bottling.
- Wine Advocate, 94
2022 was the earliest harvest in the estate's history. Jean-Louis Chave harvested the Roucoule and Péléat plots on August 23-24, while Maison Blanche and Ermite were picked on August 28. The 2022 Hermitage Blanc reveals a complex, ripe bouquet of almonds, white flowers, honey and spices mingled with baked orchard fruits. Full-bodied and concentrated, the palate is rich and dense with a suave texture, a multidimensional core of fruit framed by chalky dry extracts and a delicate, phenolic, gastronomic bitterness. Slightly austere at this stage, this gastronomic wine is built for the cellar.
- Wine Advocate, 95
2022 was the earliest harvest in the estate's history. Jean-Louis Chave harvested the Roucoule and Péléat plots on August 23-24, while Maison Blanche and Ermite were picked on August 28. The 2022 Hermitage Blanc reveals a complex, ripe bouquet of almonds, white flowers, honey and spices mingled with baked orchard fruits. Full-bodied and concentrated, the palate is rich and dense with a suave texture, a multidimensional core of fruit framed by chalky dry extracts and a delicate, phenolic, gastronomic bitterness. Slightly austere at this stage, this gastronomic wine is built for the cellar.
- Wine Advocate, 95
Loaded with notes of violets, spice and red berries, the 2020 Saint Joseph Le Clos Florentin is its customary elegant, silky self. Medium to full-bodied, it's complex and long on the finish, framed by fine-grained tannins.
- Wine Advocate, 93-95
