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!! — a month ago
In a nice place at shade under 10 years. Popped and poured and was surprisingly ready to go, though 30 mins in the glass helped for sure. Nice mouthfeel and density. Tannins are there but very well integrated. Good dark berry fruit and some pepper on the long finish. Delicious with steak and a pork chop at The Grill. — a month 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. — 2 months ago
Lovely. Slightly tropical. Mineral. Delicious. Long finish. — 2 months ago
One of my favorite CdP producers. I opened this alongside a buddy’s 2009 CSJ Deus Ex Machina and it was really intriguing to see the differences.
60 Grenache/20 Syrah/remainder a blend.
Quick bottle decant before diving in. While ready to go, an hour full-decant would probably be a good call at this stage, but not required. Where the Ex Machina was more high toned and layered (thanks to the blend), this was more up-front and plush. Violets and spiced berry compote aromatically. Dark berry fruit, sweet pipe tobacco and fig dominate the palate. Extremely concentrated (not extracted), with a savory graphite profile at the finish. Would have sworn Mourvèdre was heavy in this. Delicious. 93+ — 4 months ago
Charlie Tapp
Red fruit, black figs, sage and peppercorn. Grenache heavy with Burgundian weight and minerality. 14.5% ABV. — 4 days ago