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2005 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage Blanc #147687945
750ml
96
Wine Advocate
Reviews 96 points Wine Advocate "The 2005 Hermitage blanc is an amazing effort that defines the classic style of white Hermitage. It offers hints of marzipan, roasted hazelnuts, quince, licorice, honeysuckle, citrus oil, and wet stones. It is a superbly concentrated and powerful wine. (RP)" Vinous "The 2005 Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage Blanc is everything you?d expect from a great Northern Rhone white from this famous producer. Garrigue, beeswax, lemon, shiso leaf, poached apricot, pear and many other aromas and flavors wafted out of the glass. What you have to love about this wine is how the contributions of both the old-vine Roussanne and the Marsanne in the blend are clearly recognizable, and the sum is more than the individual parts. (ID)"
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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.