Hermitage Blanche 2016

JL CHAVE SELECTION

Hermitage Blanche
2016

Country
France
Regulated designation
Appellation origine controlée (AOC)
Region
Rhône Valley
Subregion
Northern Rhone
Appellation
Hermitage
Varietal(s)
Marsanne 50 %
Roussanne 50 %
Colour
White
Sugar
Dry
Producer's website

About this winery

The Chave family is the epitome of 'People, Place and Time'. They have been vignerons in the Rhône valley since 1481 - an astonishing 16 generations. Originally the family farmed only in St. Joseph, moving to Hermitage about a century ago when phylloxera swept through the region. Today Chave Hermitage Rouge and Hermitage Blanc are generally regarded as the appellation's greatest wines. In recent years Jean Louis has begun the painstaking process of restoring the steep St. Joseph terraces that...

See the JL CHAVE SELECTION detail page for more information on this brand

Press reviews

La Revue des vins de France

- 100 points -

(Vintage 2018)

Le blanc est bouleversant, d'une définition incroyable et d'une profondeur inouïe. La bouche est à la fois grasse, intense, énergique et se retend en finale. Très grande allonge.

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James Suckling

- 98 points -

(Vintage 2017)

Aromas of graphite, tar, dark chocolate and black cherries abound, as well as ripe dark plums. This is a very convincing and complex edition of this wine. The palate is so concentrated and has a super deep, plush and fleshy stream of fresh plums and blackberries, as well as a swathe of fine tannins. Profoundly rich and velvety with a strong backbone. This will age for more than two decades after release.

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Jeb Dunnuck

- 98 points -

(Vintage 2017)

Cut from the same cloth, the 2017 Hermitage Blanc is stunning stuff, and Chave lovers should unquestionably have bottles of this in the cellar. Bottled in August of this year, its medium gold hue is followed by a mammoth bouquet of quince, flower oil, buttered almonds, and brioche. Every bit as good on the palate, it’s full-bodied, has a stacked mid-palate, flawless balance, and incredible minerality as well as length on the finish. It’s insanely good today, and while this cuvée can shut down, I wonder if this ever will. My money is on this drinking fabulously well for 25+ years. Life is too short not to drink as much Chave Hermitage Blanc as possible!

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Wine Advocate

- 98 points -

(Vintage 2017)

In the end, I'm unable to definitely say that the 2017 Hermitage Blanc is better than the stupendous 2016. Of course, I sampled it just three days after it was bottled, so I've appended the + to my rating, as there's a possibility the wine may have been affected by that process. It's gently toasty but dominated at this stage by forward melon and pineapple fruit. Full-bodied and incredibly rich yet balanced, it unfolds in waves of flavor and texture, lingering for what seems like minutes on the finish. Hit it soon to enjoy its youthful opulence, or put it aside for 10-12 years.

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Decanter

- 97 points -

(Vintage 2018)

Rich and silky, but showing no heaviness, with a touch of lemon verbena on the nose. The alcohol is high yet not unbalanced, with an inner mineral freshness leading to a rich, long and generous butterscotch finish. A big vintage for Chave's white Hermitage, though not outrageously opulent.

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James Suckling

- 97 points -

(Vintage 2018)

The thickness of the skins on Chave’s old vine parcels is what gives this wine its unrestricted depth and intensity, as well as it s ability to age for a very long time. Aromas run from very pretty and floral, through peaches and lemons and into crushed and grilled nuts. The palate is such a textural essay with an attractively youthful and pithy shunt of tannin that underwrites a considerably long finish and long cellaring potential. Age and try from 2030.

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Decanter

- 97 points -

(Vintage 2017)

Jean-Louis' 2017 white Hermitage is a rich, almost buttered style with considerable fat and an opulent texture, but remains fresh. A tasting of four component parts - Péléat, Rocoules clay, Rocoules limestone and L'Ermite - shows an unusually rich and lush style. The Ermite component does however have a straight, lean, rising floral style to counterbalance the riper, rounder Péléat. Luxurious and cosy rather than focussed and dynamic.

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Wine Spectator

- 97 points -

(Vintage 2017)

Bright and very inviting, with a mix of pineapple, quince, mango and white peach flavors giving this a slightly exotic feel, while racy honeysuckle and orange blossom notes harness the finish, which is long and seductive in feel. A gorgeous display of range and vitality. This should cruise for two decades. Best from 2023 through 2040.

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Wine Spectator

- 94 points -

James Molesworth, October 2019 (Vintage 2015)

Ripe and enticing in feel, with a waxy-edged core of creamed yellow apple, nectarine and mirabelle plum notes, infused liberally with warm brioche and toasted macadamia nut accents, all while maintaining cut and focus through the finish. Drink now through 2030.

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