Wine Advisor
Jean-Louis Chave, Hermitage Blanc 2006
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Tasting through the component parts that will go into the 2006 Hermitage blanc, the Peleat, Rocoules, and l’Ermite, this appears to be another outstanding vintage chez Chave. Generally a blend of 80% Marsanne and 20% Roussanne, it is fascinating to see how the different sites, such as Peleat (pure finesse, elegance, and minerality), Rocoules (fat, honeysuckle, and loads of glcyerin), and l’Ermite (a combination of power, concentration, and extraordinary laser-like precision and minerality), combine to produce an amazingly rich, concentrated wine that should turn out to be as good as the blockbuster 2005. I don’t think the 2006 has the power and density of the 2005, but it’s very close. I would drink either one at any time. It should drink well for 20+ years. A bastion of traditionalism and terroir-sensitive winemaking, the Chaves, both father Gerard and son Jean-Louis, continue to establish higher and higher standards for artisanal, high quality winemaking without manipulation or compromise. As I have said many times in the past, after more than two dozen visits to their cellars in Mauves, the Chave address remains one of the most extraordinary places of learning in the wine world. Most importantly, they have had a remarkable succession of successful vintages that began in 1994. Importer: Langdon Shiverick, Los Angeles, CA; tel. (213) 483-5900
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Tasted from Yapp’s reserves at a private vertical. Coming after the 2004, this is still quite closed on the nose, taking time to reluctantly give up scents of lanolin, Conference pear and just a faint hint of pineapple. Well-defined but of so tight. The palate is where it is all going on: perhaps even more poise and focus than the 2004, vibrant acidity, a little spicier, more glycerol, energy and vibrancy. Orange zest, pineapple, spice, vanilla pod, creme caramel – beautiful, languid, almost understated finish. Superb. Drink 2012-2025. Tasted March 2009.
Reviewed by: Jeb Dunnuck
Absolutely prodigious, with both blockbuster richness and an inherent weightlessness and elegance that shows how successful the vintage was for whites, the 2006 Hermitage Blanc offers incredible minerality as well as notes of white currants, buttered stone fruits and hints of honeycomb in a rich, layered, thrillingly pure style. It's drinking gorgeously today, but certainly has two decades of life remaining. This might be a dessert island white for me and count yourself lucky if you have a few bottles of this elixir in the cellar.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
The bottled 2006 Hermitage blanc is remarkably powerful (around 15% natural alcohol), and demonstrates the heights white wine varietals reached in the northern Rhone in 2006. Its sumptuous nose reminds me of a liqueur of white flowers intermixed with notions of truffles, white peaches, honeysuckle, marmalade, and crushed rocks. Dense, full-bodied, and super-powerful as well as flowery, with razor-like focus, this magnificent white Hermitage should drink well for 25-30 years. One of my favorite true and authentic vignerons to visit is the Chave family, located in the tiny, one-horse village of Mauves, just south of Tournon. The son, Jean-Louis, is taking over the reins more and more, but his father, Gerard, is still involved even though he is officially retired. As always, these wines performed brilliantly. Readers should keep in mind that the reviews of the 2007 white Hermitage and 2007 red Hermitage are a matter of extrapolating from tasting all the separate vineyards that go into these wines. That said, the Chaves appear to be ratcheting up their quality level because of a Draconian selection process in the vineyard as well as in the winery. The Chave estate wines’ finest value is St.-Joseph (5,000 bottles produced in each vintage), which comes from hillside vines planted in pure schist just outside their home village of Mauves. Importer: Langdon-Shiverick, Los Angeles, CA; tel. (213) 483-5900
