Jean-Louis Chave, Hermitage Blanc, Rhône Valley, France, 2011

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
Hermitage AOC, Rhône Valley, France

Grapes/Blend
80% Marsanne, 20% Roussanne

Winemaker's Tasting Notes
Yellow robe. Varnish, soaked white plums, dried fruits airs combine with verbena, tilleul (linden), brioche baked bread, aniseed, spice and Comté cheese. There is plenty of potential on the nose. The palate bears generous gras richness and body in a rolled up, withdrawn wine. It is elegant inside. The finale is lucid, dentelle, the aftertaste bringing forward aniseed, some licorice. The tightness on the finish is impressive. Come back to this when it is 12 to 15 years’ old for all its possibilities. "It is more serious than the 2012," Jean-Louis Chave."

96 Points - Jeb Dunnuck
I love the 2011 Hermitage. (This vintage, in general, produced incredibly sexy, flamboyant wines that have drunk well since release.) Its deep ruby/purple color is followed by tons of sweet crème de cassis, peppery spice, sun-dried flowers, and the classic minerality that’s the defining feature of the Bessards lieu-dit that dominates this cuvée. 96+

96 Points - Wine Advocate
A structured, almost wiry wine, Chave's 2011 Hermitage remains a bit tight and tannic. That said, it still offers plenty of pleasure and has developed lovely aromas of leather, cured meat, redcurrants and black olives. Medium to full-bodied, with a rich, velvety feel on the finish, it should continue to drink well for at least another decade and probably longer. (JC)

97 Points - Wine Spectator
Still a bit reserved aromatically, with hints of orange blossom and crème anglaise peeking out, this features a captivating display of racy quinine, honeysuckle and white peach flavors inlaid into a rich core of brioche, Cavaillon melon, white truffle, smoked almond and heather honey. Incredibly long. Hard to resist now, but ideal for when your toddler graduates college. Best from 2019 through 2030. *Collectible*

96 Points - Wine Advocate
Just bottled, the 2011 Hermitage Blanc also shows the richer side of Hermitage with its full-bodied, voluptuously textured and up-front profile. Honeysuckle, licorice, toast, citrus oil and liquid mineral-like qualities all emerge from this beauty, and it stays beautifully fresh and focused on the palate. A blend of mostly Marsanne, yet with roughly 20% Roussanne, from the l’Ermite, Les Rocoules, Maison Blanche and Peleat lieux-dits, this substantial white should be consumed over the coming 2-4 years, or forgotten for a decade or more. It will have over two decades of longevity. One of the highlight visits during my time spent working in the Northern Rhone, Jean-Louis Chave (who is often called 'The Pope of Hermitage' by others) makes some of the most profound wines in the world today. (JD)

95 Points - Vinous
Light yellow. Intense scents of nectarine, pear skin and lemon curd, with complicating floral and mineral notes gaining power with air. Broad and fleshy but tightly focused, offering vibrant orchard and pit fruit flavors and a refreshingly bitter note of citrus pith. Dry and nervy on the penetrating, powerful. sharply focused finish, which leaves sexy honeysuckle and ginger notes behind. I suspect that this wine will age gracefully on its tension and balance. (JR)

Product size: 750ml