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2005 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage #173274894
3.0L
Reviews 97 points Wine Advocate "...an incredible wine that shines for its purity, focus and pure class. Offering up lots of granite-like minerality, creme de cassis, violets and graphite, this rich, full-bodied, gorgeously concentrated Hermitage has good acidity, building, ripe tannin and a fabulous finish. (JB)" 97 points Vinous "Inky ruby. Hugely aromatic bouquet of red and dark berries, cherry, Asian spices, fresh flowers, minerals and cured meat; smells like a great grand cru from Vosne-Romanee but with a wilder side. Flat-out gorgeous wine, with remarkably deep but fresh red berry and cherry flavors that stain the palate. Seems to actually expand on the finish, picking up exotic spicecake and rose pastille character and leaving a sweet trail of smoky red fruits behind. (JR)"
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About Domaine Jean-Louis Chave
Rooted in the esteemed heritage of Hermitage, Domaine Jean-Louis Chave is helmed by an indomitable figure, Jean-Louis Chave. A significant landowner in the region, Jean-Louis stewards 15 hectares of Syrah, Marsanne, and Roussanne vines organically, nestling on Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage, and St. Joseph's coveted granite and clay/limestone soils.
Having assumed command of the family's estate in the 1990s, Jean-Louis has adopted traditional methods in the cellar to respect the estate's legacy. By meticulously controlling the process, from cooling and de-stemming about 80% of the harvest to aging wines for up to 18 months in oak barrels apt for each vintage, Jean-Louis delivers expressive wines, both whites and reds, that offer profound minerality and potential for aging.
The essence of Chave's Hermitage lies in their unparalleled blending skills. Each season marks a fresh start, weaving a distinct narrative of balance through Hermitage Rouge's constant backbone, Syrah from Bessards Vineyard, and old vines Marsanne from Péléat Vineyard, forming the foundation for the Blanc. An element of Roussanne is also introduced to the final blend, amplifying the wines' complexity.
Apart from their benchmark Hermitage wines, Chave also produces an exquisite St. Joseph rouge. The family also offers the more accessible Jean-Louis Chave Selections line, which includes the "Mon Coeur" Côtes-du-Rhône and "Silène" Crozes-Hermitage, maintaining their unparalleled standard even at the entry level.
Jean-Louis’s meticulous approach in his vineyards extends to his project of rejuvenating abandoned hillside vineyards in St. Joseph, which now significantly contribute to the Jean-Louis Chave Selection label. This dedication and perseverance cement Domaine Jean-Louis Chave as a beacon of the purest expression of Northern Rhône terroir.