Benchmark Wines by

Chave, J.L.

The Winery

Jean Louis Chave

"The vineyard is more important than who is making the wine. The vineyard was here before us and it will be here after us."
- Jean Louis Chave

The Wine Spectator deemed JL Chave, a 500 year old estate, “the most sought after Rhone bottling among private collectors.” With production at just over 3,000 cases per annum, his passion for letting the terrior speak through the grapes creates wines that are integrated, powerful and complex; there is no makeup on these wines. The focus is on great wines with an emphasis on father to son tradition ‘vignerons de Pere en Fils’.

University of California Davis graduate, Jean Louis Chave, took over as winemaker with the help of his father, Gerard, who is still very much active on the property. They believe the French appellations need more definition, which is evident in his passion for preserving the integrity and individuality of each parcel they source from before blending. There are no chemicals and no machines in the vineyards, and minimal intervention in the cellar. The wines are an expression of their soil, their people and their place.

www.domainejlchave.fr

2012
8 In Stock
750ml
WS97
WA96
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Tasting Notes

WS97
A stunner from the start, with distinctive depth to the creamed mango, white peach and heather flavors, this maintains superior precision and definition as the singed almond, chamomile, salted butter and ginger notes fill in. Glazed pear, elderflower honey and beeswax details chime in on the extremely long finish. Enjoyable now, but needs serious cellaring to show its full potential. Best from 2016 through 2037.
WA96
Much more open, fleshy and sexy, the 2012 Hermitage Blanc was just bottled a month prior to this tasting. Coming from 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.

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