It’s always a resounding ‘YES’ for JL Chave!!
That includes this luscious and concentrated Syrah from Saint-Joseph AOC in the Northern Rhône of France.
Domaine Jean-Louis Chave is a benchmark and icon of the Rhône Valley – a family-run operation since 1481 – with an entire range of deliciousness through the Domaine Jean-Louis Chave and JL Chave Selection portfolios.
This wine is deep ruby, trending on purple. It has pronounced aromas and flavors of boysenberry, blueberry, black cherry, cassis, pomegranate, also violet, bacon, sanguine, saddle leather, pipe tobacco, clove, cigar, damp earth, and black peppercorn. Alcohol is high (14.5% ABV) with medium (+) fine-grained and well-integrated tannins, medium (+) acidity, a medium (+) body, and a long, elegant finish.
It has a rustic and savory character with robust dark fruit notes; it’s layered, complex, structured, and age-worthy, benefitting from decanting. Still, it’s tasting wonderfully now.
Cheers to JL Chave and treasures of the Rhône!! — 15 days ago
Thick, powerful and intense but a bit too stewed and alcoholic for me. You can sense the complexity and depth but just not in balance. — 19 days ago
Outstanding! Dark fruit(s)…Black Tea…Smoked Meats…And?…way too young to really tell. But, one thing is for sure..a definite cellar addition. — 2 hours ago
Not to be outdone, the 1989 Chave Hermitage Rouge showed more brambles than the ’88 along with other desiccated blue and black fruits. Dried flowers, beef, blood, leather and mushrooms. Every time I have the pleasure of drinking old Chave, I’m reminded that these wines have so much character and there is a reason they are so adored. Lovely with grilled lamb and Moroccan spices. Drink now through 2040. — a month ago
Stood upright for a week so the particles would settle in the bottom. I decanted so I could get a clear glass and could see the puff of sulfur and all the bubbles or effervescence in the decanter. Very yeasty for the first 30 minutes and took longer than that for it to lose the effervescence. Not sure if any of this helped or hindered the results 🫠 — 8 days ago
Ron Siegel
Just a delicious wine that is so balanced with its rich sappy red fruit, generous spice, mineral & violet — 4 days ago