Description

This legendary wine is produced from multiple plots on the famous l'hermitage hill.

Bessards: The backbone of Chave’s Hermitage year in and out. One of the most famous vineyards in the AOC, Bessards is based on steep, granite hillside soils and provides a strong mineral note to the wine. Beaumes: A long, narrow vineyard running north to south on the midpoint of the hill, Beaumes tends to produce lighter, more fruit-forward Syrah. Hermite: This vineyard is located at the very top of the hill of Hermitage and surrounds the Chapel located there. It has a range of soil types, including granite and loess. Chave often vinifies different lots from with in Hermite separately. Péléat: A monopole, with stony, sandy soil, Péléat provides wines that are firmer and more complex. Méal: A fairly large vineyard just to the east of Bessards. Méal is based on looser, alluvial soils and produces richer, riper wines with plenty of structure.

Vinification: Generally 100% destemmed, as the Hermitage is meant to be about the expression of the individual vineyards and soils and Jean-Louis believes that stems have a tendency to level out the differences. Fermentation in wood tonneaux and stainless steel tanks. Aged in barriques for 30 months.

Jeb Dunnuck 96-98

Focused red and black fruits, leather, graphite, and spice emerge from the 2022 Hermitage, and it's about as classic an expression of the vintage as you're likely to find with its ripe yet almost strict, focused, balanced character. Medium to full-bodied and concentrated on the palate, it displays a Pinot-like elegance and seamlessness, with fine yet building, firm tannins and incredible length. It's going to age beautifully, but I suspect the cellar will be your friend here.

Vinous 96-98

I tasted various separately vinified lieux-dits that will eventually curate the 2022 L'Hermitage. Both the L'Ermite and Les Bessards, the cuvée’s backbone, show terrific structure, finesse and complexity. I am totally taken by the sheer beauty of the Les Beaumes with its striking inner energy and the mesmerizing floral lift of the Péléat. Cropped at an overall 30 hL/ha, the ripeness of the vintage is skillfully balanced by lifting freshness throughout all components. I can’t wait to taste the final result. (NG)

Wine Advocate 95

The 2022 Hermitage from Jean-Louis Chave is broad and deep, bursting with aromas of smoke, licorice and dark wild berries mingled with delicate notes of fresh thyme and spices. Full-bodied, dense and powerful, layered and concentrated, it has a fleshy palate with a broad attack, racy mid-palate, velvety tannins and a mordant, somewhat firm finish. Remarkably, despite the sunny, dry conditions of the vintage, the wine does not exhibit an overtly warm character. This Hermitage stands out at this address as a particularly unique expression, rewarding those who are patient. (YC) 95+

Jancis Robinson 18/20

Cask samples tasted at the domaine.Sample 1: Péléat. Very floral aromas, earthy underneath. A real sense of salinity and freshness on the palate.Sample 2: Beaume. Really powerful with a spiced note – mocha – rich and opulent.Sample 3: Le Méal. Sweet spice, sandalwood, perfumed violet notes. Firm but supple and textured tannins.Sample 4: L'Hermite. Wow – such expression. Cassis and crushed blackberry. Violet with berries on the palate, crunchy and a real sense of freshness.Sample 5: Bessards.Dried flowers, violets. Real grip on the palate with an underlying steely freshness. A slight Islay whisky smoked peaty note underneath. 18/20 points (AC)