Jean-Louis Chave, Hermitage Blanc, 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. 

Winemaker
Jean-Louis Chave

Grapes / Blend
Marsanne

Origin
Hermitage AOC, Rhône Valley, Franc

Tasting Notes
Increased acidity for the vintage results in a taut structure and incredible length. Notes of orange blossom and lemon curd.

96-98 Points - Jeb Dunnuck
I continue to think that this estate makes one of the greatest white wines in the world. Looking at the 2022 Hermitage Blanc, it was harvested starting on the 23rd of August and is still resting in a mix of barrel and tank. I was able to taste through multiple lieux-dits, all of which were impressive, with the Péléat bringing the power and opulence and Les Rocoules and L'Ermite bringing more structure and precision. This will be a full-bodied, deep, concentrated wine that will have decades of life. In a time when many refuse to take any risks and are abandoning any hope of true greatness in wine, it's such a relief to have a producer like this continue to make concentrated, powerful, utterly classic and singular wines. Bravo. 96-98+

97 Points - Vinous
Bottled in September 2024, just two months before my visit, the 2022 L'Hermitage Blanc is brilliant. Prominent honeysuckle, lemon zest, ripe peach, cedar, quince and a hint of jasmine burst from the glass. The full-bodied 2022 seamlessly combines elevated flavor concentration with vibrant freshness on the palate, delivering a precise, impressive L'Hermitage Blanc. The refined finish is remarkably long and focused, enhanced by a nuanced phenolic grip.

96 Points - Decanter
The plots of Péléat and Rocoules were a little richer than a typical year, with relatively low acidity, while Ermite had a honeysuckle florality and a little more flesh than usual. Rich, dense and mighty, it is the opposite in style to the fine, fresh 2021. Picking started on 23 August in 2022. A tasting of the different plots was instructive, but the wines had been moved from barrel to tank the day before, so the score is a guide only. 

95 Points - Wine Advocate
2022 was the earliest harvest in the estate's history. Jean-Louis Chave harvested the Roucoule and Péléat plots on August 23-24, while Maison Blanche and Ermite were picked on August 28. The 2022 Hermitage Blanc reveals a complex, ripe bouquet of almonds, white flowers, honey and spices mingled with baked orchard fruits. Full-bodied and concentrated, the palate is rich and dense with a suave texture, a multidimensional core of fruit framed by chalky dry extracts and a delicate, phenolic, gastronomic bitterness. Slightly austere at this stage, this gastronomic wine is built for the cellar.

Product size: 750ml