2021 Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage Rouge, Rhone Valley, France
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ABOUT THIS WINE
The 2021 Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage Rouge is a masterclass in Northern Rhône winemaking, blending parcels from renowned plots on Hermitage Hill, including Les Bessards, Le Méal, Les Greffieux, and Péléat. The wine is 100% Syrah, a grape that thrives in this steep, granite-rich landscape, resulting in a wine that speaks deeply of its origins. In the glass, expect concentrated aromas of blackberry, cassis, and violet, interwoven with hints of smoky minerality, black pepper, and herbs. The palate mirrors these aromas, adding layers of black cherry, plum, and a whisper of graphite and earthiness. Fine, well-integrated tannins provide structure, while a backbone of fresh acidity enhances the wine’s balance and aging potential.
The wine spends up to 18 months in oak barrels, with only a portion in new oak, allowing the terroir-driven character to shine while imparting a subtle roundness and finesse. The 2021 vintage showcases freshness and precision, with slightly cooler weather lending bright acidity, complexity, and a clean mineral core to the wine.
ABOUT THIS PRODUCER
Jean-Louis Chave is one of the top producers in the Rhone Valley and we are always excited to feature his wines on our shelves!
Wine growers in the northern Rhône since 1481, the Chave family (currently helmed by Gérard and son Jean-Louis) represents 16 generations of unbroken lineage committed to the production of some of the finest Syrah, Marsanne, and Roussanne on the planet. Jean Louis joined his father in 1992 after completing undergraduate studies at University of Connecticut and a degree in oenology at Davis. It was at that time that he completely replanted vineyards on the family’s original estate in Saint-Joseph, which had been abandoned in the early 1900’s when phylloxera hit the region.
The key to perfect balance in Chave’s Hermitage is in their remarkable blending skill, which begins again every season. Many hours of thought, insight, and conversation go into the final component blend for Hermitage. Never once has the Chave family released a single vineyard or cru Hermitage. While percentages vary from year to year, the constant backbone of Hermitage Rouge is Syrah from Bessards Vineyard with its steep, granitic slopes. Similarly with the Blanc, the components vary, however the base is made from old vines Marsanne from their Péléat vineyard. Some Roussanne is also added to the final blend.