Wine Advisor
Jean-Louis Chave, Hermitage Blanc 2000
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
A 1,000-case blend of 80% Marsanne and 20% Roussanne, the profound 2000 Hermitage blanc boasts a terrific perfume of honeysuckle, white flowers, peaches, citrus, and minerals. Displaying an unctuous texture along with tremendous glycerin, richness, and depth, it will undoubtedly close down after a few years in the bottle, but for now, it is a spectacularly rich, multidimensional white Hermitage to drink young, then forget about for 5-10 years, after which it will last for 15-20 years. This family-run estate continues to go from strength to strength, with the father and son (Gerard and Jean-Louis) team pushing all the right buttons to achieve success at all quality levels. Jean-Louis Chave is responsible for several negociant wines. Importers: Langdon Shiverick, Cleveland, OH; tel. (216) 861-6800 and Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant, Berkeley, CA; tel. (510) 524-1524
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
The 2000 Hermitage blanc had not been assembled, but every component part, from l'Ermite through Rocoules and Peleat, easily merited between 92 and 95 points. The wine is extremely powerful, opulent, and concentrated. It appears to be another superlative vintage for this estate. The Chaves recognized that the key to success in 2000 (a year where Mother Nature was overly generous) was a draconian crop thinning, not just once, but multiple times. Yields at Chave were the lowest in the northern Rhone. That is reflected in the concentration achieved. The 2000 Hermitage white should drink well in its youth, close up in 6-7 years, and re-emerge and drink well for 10-25+ years. When I arrived at 6:00 p.m., September 11, 2001, at Domaine Chave, I found Chave in tears and his family distraught. I had heard about the attacks on the World Trade Center, but not the subsequent collapse of both towers. Gerard Chave knows all about suicidal bombers, having served in the French military during the Algerian revolution. It took a long time to gather sufficient focus to do my tastings. However, the brilliant wines that unfolded in the cellars were, at least for several hours, a much needed antidote for pushing to the back of my mind the horror of 9-11-01. Importers: Langdon Shiverick, Cleveland OH; tel. (216) 861-6800 and Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant, Berkeley, CA; tel. (510) 524-1524
