Domaine Jean-Louis Chave
Hermitage Syrah
Hermitage, Northern Rhône, Rhône, France
And then this happened. Oh my days! Opened prior to dinner and enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 1990 pours a deep garnet color with a translucent core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of powerful ripe and desiccated brambles, dried purple flowers, beef blood, leather and mushrooms and earth. On the palate, the wine is dry and structure is still going strong with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose, to quote “Squints”, the finish goes on, FOR-EV-ER. A monument. Drink now through 2040.
And then this happened. Oh my days! Opened prior to dinner and enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 1990 pours a deep garnet color with a translucent core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of powerful ripe and desiccated brambles, dried purple flowers, beef blood, leather and mushrooms and earth. On the palate, the wine is dry and structure is still going strong with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose, to quote “Squints”, the finish goes on, FOR-EV-ER. A monument. Drink now through 2040.
Apr 4th, 2026It’s been a couple of years since I last encountered the 2001 vintage of Chave’s Hermitage. That bottle was a library release from the domaine and so is this example. Splash decanted directly before service. The 2001 pours a garnet color with a translucent core; medium viscosity with significant staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is vinous and a total umami bomb: Koji beef broth, dried and baked brambles, dried purple flowers, black pepper, Kalamata olive, organic and inorganic earth along with fine warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. Looking back on my notes from 2024, there’s a common theme: the 2001 is all about dat bass. Drink now with some patience and through 2041.
It’s been a couple of years since I last encountered the 2001 vintage of Chave’s Hermitage. That bottle was a library release from the domaine and so is this example. Splash decanted directly before service. The 2001 pours a garnet color with a translucent core; medium viscosity with significant staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is vinous and a total umami bomb: Koji beef broth, dried and baked brambles, dried purple flowers, black pepper, Kalamata olive, organic and inorganic earth along with fine warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. Looking back on my notes from 2024, there’s a common theme: the 2001 is all about dat bass. Drink now with some patience and through 2041.
Feb 2nd, 2026
Great quality and bright and sharp. Defined and excellent. Great
Great quality and bright and sharp. Defined and excellent. Great
Aug 15th, 2025Really floral and fleshy on the nose. Cherry, rose, inkiness… great stuff. Medium bodied alongside the 1990 but pretty and defined. Excellent
Really floral and fleshy on the nose. Cherry, rose, inkiness… great stuff. Medium bodied alongside the 1990 but pretty and defined. Excellent
Jul 17th, 2025An explosive supple nose with rose, hints of tar, gnarly intense fruit in the middle. Fresh and powerful still. Spectacularly complex. Iron and salinity on the finish. Wow
An explosive supple nose with rose, hints of tar, gnarly intense fruit in the middle. Fresh and powerful still. Spectacularly complex. Iron and salinity on the finish. Wow
Jul 17th, 2025Gorgeous on the nose. Roses, some gnarly fruit and a hint of funk. Beautiful and complex and balanced. Soft in the mid palate… soft red cherry. Excellent and fully mature.
Gorgeous on the nose. Roses, some gnarly fruit and a hint of funk. Beautiful and complex and balanced. Soft in the mid palate… soft red cherry. Excellent and fully mature.
Jul 17th, 2025A really complex noise. Herbs and red cherry. Wood and redcurrant, thyme. No Intense but light. Exceptional
A really complex noise. Herbs and red cherry. Wood and redcurrant, thyme. No Intense but light. Exceptional
Jun 26th, 2025great fruit. Fresh and primary. Needs time but great potential
great fruit. Fresh and primary. Needs time but great potential
Nov 19th, 2024Lovely plum and sour cherry. A bit tight. Bright.
Lovely plum and sour cherry. A bit tight. Bright.
Nov 19th, 2024