Domaine Jean-Louis Chave
Mon Coeur Côtes du Rhône Red Rhone Blend
Côtes du Rhône, Southern Rhône, Rhône, France
“This Côtes-du-Rhône is technically made from purchased fruit. Chave generally has financed his sources and takes their grapes by a métayage (sharecropping) arrangement. He has more or less complete control over the farming, which is organic. The grapes are shipped to Chave’s facility inside his Saint-Joseph Le Clos site in Mauves. Fermentation is in stainless steel tanks and élevage is in an assortment of new and old barrels, demi-muids and large foudres.”
I’ve enjoyed a few of Chave’s “Selection” series, especially the Blanche (100% marsanne from Hermitage…fantastic). While I’ve been fortunate to try Chave’s Hermitage a few times, I did my best to set expectations fairly for this (at $25/bottle). Short story…very pleased with it. I followed this over two days and it stayed consistent. Deep red in the glass with aromatics of garrique, herbs de Provence, and spiced raspberries and blackberries. The palate still sports such a “clean” profile that I associate with Chave’s Hermitage, alongside pepper and fragrant/floral notes.
This is a CdR that has some staying power. Solid value.
“This Côtes-du-Rhône is technically made from purchased fruit. Chave generally has financed his sources and takes their grapes by a métayage (sharecropping) arrangement. He has more or less complete control over the farming, which is organic. The grapes are shipped to Chave’s facility inside his Saint-Joseph Le Clos site in Mauves. Fermentation is in stainless steel tanks and élevage is in an assortment of new and old barrels, demi-muids and large foudres.”
I’ve enjoyed a few of Chave’s “Selection” series, especially the Blanche (100% marsanne from Hermitage…fantastic). While I’ve been fortunate to try Chave’s Hermitage a few times, I did my best to set expectations fairly for this (at $25/bottle). Short story…very pleased with it. I followed this over two days and it stayed consistent. Deep red in the glass with aromatics of garrique, herbs de Provence, and spiced raspberries and blackberries. The palate still sports such a “clean” profile that I associate with Chave’s Hermitage, alongside pepper and fragrant/floral notes.
This is a CdR that has some staying power. Solid value.
I had low expectations for this considering its advanced age, but leave it to Chave to craft a CdR that can go 20 years. Nose is soft and watercolored with purple fruit, menthol and black pepper. Palate is relatively short but it really pops in the mouth, fully resolved tannins still with some acid holding it together. Beautifully textured. Mon Coeur is a strong choice for a relatively inexpensive bottle to buy a handful of and forget about in your cellar.
I had low expectations for this considering its advanced age, but leave it to Chave to craft a CdR that can go 20 years. Nose is soft and watercolored with purple fruit, menthol and black pepper. Palate is relatively short but it really pops in the mouth, fully resolved tannins still with some acid holding it together. Beautifully textured. Mon Coeur is a strong choice for a relatively inexpensive bottle to buy a handful of and forget about in your cellar.
Oct 31st, 2020
Dark fruits, anise, pepper spice, earth. Little towards new world, but old world still dominates.
Dark fruits, anise, pepper spice, earth. Little towards new world, but old world still dominates.
Dec 27th, 2018CDR from the master. Dark cherry, blackberry, boysenberry, plum, liquorice, granite, tea leaf and even a touch of Brett. Medium tannins that actually built given some air in the glass and medium acidity. Length could take or leave.
CDR from the master. Dark cherry, blackberry, boysenberry, plum, liquorice, granite, tea leaf and even a touch of Brett. Medium tannins that actually built given some air in the glass and medium acidity. Length could take or leave.
May 18th, 2018
Dark fruit, a bit of the animal and just a touch of barnyard funk. A really interesting CdR. Leave it to Chave.
Dark fruit, a bit of the animal and just a touch of barnyard funk. A really interesting CdR. Leave it to Chave.
Mar 22nd, 2018
First introduction to Chave - and it did not disappoint. Pours way darker than any CdR I've seen - a tell-tale sign of the '15 vintage. Beauty aromatics of baking spice, lavender, toast, black fruit and pepper. The palate is big, with seductive chocolate covered cranberries, underbrush, and licorice accents. Tannins are staunch for a CdR, but don't necessarily in a bad way if you can handle them. This is completely on another level.. it makes other CdR's run home to their Mommas.
First introduction to Chave - and it did not disappoint. Pours way darker than any CdR I've seen - a tell-tale sign of the '15 vintage. Beauty aromatics of baking spice, lavender, toast, black fruit and pepper. The palate is big, with seductive chocolate covered cranberries, underbrush, and licorice accents. Tannins are staunch for a CdR, but don't necessarily in a bad way if you can handle them. This is completely on another level.. it makes other CdR's run home to their Mommas.
Dec 16th, 2017
I could drink this every day. Great balance. Perfume in the nose, pepper, red fruit in the palate, nice tannin backbone. So good.
I could drink this every day. Great balance. Perfume in the nose, pepper, red fruit in the palate, nice tannin backbone. So good.
4 people found it helpfulOct 29th, 2015