Jean-Louis Chave Selection, Saint-Joseph 'Offerus', Rhône Valley, France, 2022

Overview of the Wine
Going back to 1481, when the first Jean-Louis Chave was gifted a vineyard in St Joseph by the nobleman Farconnet, 25 generations have farmed some of the best parcels in the Northern Rhône. Though now known as perhaps the best producer of Hermitage (and certainly among the best blenders in the world), the family only expanded to this famous hill during the mid-1800s wave of phylloxera that decimated Europe's vineyards. 

In the 1970s, when Gerard Chave took over from his father, the domaine rapidly achieved megastar status due to the extraordinary quality of his wines. Gerard's son Jean-Louis (25th of his name) now oversees the estate and has shown an ever expanding dedication to improving the already stunning quality of these rare wines. Jean-Louis Chave regularly dedicates the domaine to intense and exacting projects, the benefits of which will be seen by future generations. Indeed, the estate employs three full time stonemasons just to repair the traditional stone walls dotting the vineyards. 

Since the 1990s, Jean-Louis Chave has offered a second label known as 'J.L. Chave Sélection' that provides a glimpse of the reason for the estate's fame at a fraction of the price. Many of these wines are from declassified estate wine and long term farming contracts, and are vinified in the domaine's primary cellar in Mauves. 

Natural and Organic. 

Winemaker
Jean-Louis Chave

Origin
Saint-Joseph, Rhône Valley, France

Grapes/Blend
Syrah

Winemaker's Tasting Notes
Jean-Louis Chave Selections is the negotiant project of the Chave family. Much of the wine though is from estate grapes and produced with the same methodology. These are not wines to be skipped, and provide excellent value. Violets, dark fruit, earth, and spice are all on display here.

92 Points - Wine Spectator
Boysenberry and juicy plum notes reveal hints of earth, violet and loamy earth in this focused, elegant red, while smoked meat, mocha and graphite move in on the medium-bodied frame. Tangy acidity and fine tannins firm up the finish. Drink now through 2030. 3,300 cases made, 200 cases imported.

91 Points - Jeb Dunnuck
A completely different beast than the 2021, the 2022 Saint Joseph Offerus comes from a sunny, hot vintage and brings another level of fruit and texture. Black raspberries, violets, ground pepper, and scorched earth define the aromatics, and this beauty is medium-bodied, with a ripe, textured mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and nicely integrated acidity. This juicy, fruit-loaded, yet still classic, incredibly satisfying Saint-Joseph will drink brilliantly over the coming decade. As with the 2021, it needs a fair bit of air to show at its best, although don't make the mistake of thinking every Northern Rhône Syrah needs 20+ years in the cellar.

Product size: 750ml