2012 HERMITAGE (ROUGE), JL Chave. Northern Rhône

The Hill of Hermitage in the northern Rhône produces what has long been called the ‘king of wines’ for its muscular, long-lived style. La Chapelle, from Jaboulet, may be the most famous wine, but the smaller family-run Chave have long been accepted as the top producer. They have 14 parcels in 9 different lieux-dits (vineyards), which he blends at the last possible moment.

100% Syrah, aged in barrel for 18 months, with just 10-20% new oak.

2020-2040, probably at its best from 2025.

This seems at first surprisingly lacking in obvious richness. The intensity emerges given 10 minutes in the glass. A wine of incredible subtlety and elegance.

NOTE – We have just one case of 6 left. We bought 2 cases on release from UK agent FMV and have stored them in our underground cellar since then. We only sell them DPD and in the UK. 

We also have a case of 2009 (at £600 per bottle), should you be interested.

96 points, Jeb Dunnuck, The Wine Advocate – “One of the more charming and forward efforts from Chave, the 2012 Hermitage sports a mostly opaque purple color to go with classic creme de cassis and blackberry fruits intermixed with notions of lead pencil shavings, violets and powdered rocks. Deep, full-bodied and sumptuously textured, with good freshness, this pure, elegant Hermitage shows more and more definition and cut with time in the glass, but never loses it’s more fruit forward, charming profile. I suspect it will drink nicely for most of its life.”