Domaine Jean-Louis Chave _ 2016 - Hermitage Rouge _ 750 ml.
France - Rhone
Syrah
Red - Vintage: 2016 - Size: 750 ml.
Since 1991, JL Chave has been using mostly stainless steel, along with 3 wooden open top fermenters is destemmed. Interestingly, this practice took place during the production of wines during the 1800's, but that fell out The fruit from each terroir is vinified separately. For the red wine of Chave, the grapes are usually partially, but not always fully destemmed. In very ripe years, stems might be left on the grapes. It really varies from vintage to vintage. Vinification takes place in a combination of cement vats, stainless barrels. Each parcel is vinified and aged separately, until the blending takes place. Depending on the vintage, malolactic fermentation can take place in casks, vats or tank. Once fermentation is moved the large 228 liter oak barrels for ageing. The wines of Jean Louis Chave are aged in barrel for about new oak varies from 10-20%, depending on the vintage. The used barrels range in age from 1-5 years which can come from Burgundy. Jean Louis Chave has been with time. His logic is, with refined tannins, the wine does not need that much new oak. The wine is blended after 18 months in barrel, usually in July. Jean Louis Chave waits for 60-90 days after production of Chave Hermitage rouge ranges from 2,000 to 2,500 cases per vintage. The key to the perfect balance of Chave Hermitage, whether rouge or blanc, is in Gerard and Jean-Louis' remarkable blending skill, a process that begins anew with each vintage. Like Jamet and Clape, the Chaves assemble their vintage cuvees from their expertly farmed array of sites, each with its own character, to create singular blends of great nuance, harmony, depth and aging potential.
Still mostly in separate components, the 2016 Hermitage nevertheless looks sensational. Les Beaumes was very pretty and red fruited, with silky tannins (94 - 96). Le Meal was putting itself forward as plush and velvety, with flowers, crushed stone and ripe fruit (95 - 97). A combined sample of les Bessards and l'Hermite showed great, granite-derived structure allied to licorice and cassis (96-98). (JC)
James Suckling: 98
A wealth of floras with spiced dark chocolate, peppery notes, graphite, dark stones and grilled meats. There's a very concentrated core of red and black fruit on the palate, weighing deep into the middle with super fine yet strong tannins wrapping up the wine. There is also enduring red-fruit freshness emerging into the finish. This is a great Hermitage that will deliver incredible age potential and enjoy an esteemed life in bottle. Barrel sample.