Fantastic Jean-Louis Chave selection from our stock

We are excited to be able to offer you a selection of wines coming from our stock, from one of France’s most respected and revered wineries today. The wines of J L Chave are some of the market’s most in-demand wines, and, with over 500 years of history (founded in 1481) they are one of The Rhone’s most historic vineyards. A real symbol of tradition and authenticity, Chave has understandably amassed a loyal army of fans across the globe. We are therefore thrilled to be able to offer you a real selection across multiple vintages and of both the wonderful reds and whites.

Some highlights here are the flawlessly rated 100 point 2009 Hermitage, for Jeb Dunnuck, this is “One of the greatest wines ever made by this reference point estate”, while Robert Parker advises that, “Anyone who loves Hermitage… should be lining up to get a few bottles of this beauty”. Also included here is the 2015 Hermitage that also scores 100 points with Dunnuck. For him this is “as good as Hermitage can get” and he describes its “incredible purity, finesse, and elegan(ce) paired with awesome depth and structure”.

On the white side, the 2017 Hermitage Blanc for its part scores 98+ from Joe Czerwinski, who speaks of it being “full-bodied and incredibly rich yet balanced, it unfolds in waves of flavor and texture, lingering for what seems like minutes on the finish”.

Do let us know if you would like to pick up any of the below:

2009 Jean-Louis Chave, Hermitage

£5,800 per case (12*75cl OC) in bond – 1 case available

100 pts Jeb Dunnuck

“One of the greatest wines ever made by this reference point estate, the 2009 Hermitage is one of those wines that offers everything you could ever want from a glass of wine and then more. Still youthfully ruby/plum-hued, it has shed its considerable baby fat and offers a quintessential Hermitage bouquet of red and black fruits, leather, liquid rock-like minerality, flowers, and meaty, peppery, spicy nuances. Insanely complex and layered aromatically, it hits the palate with a deep, concentrated mouthfeel, building yet ultra-fine tannins, and absolutely flawless balance. This beauty is a lesson in true greatness in wine, and readers should beg, borrow, or steal to taste it. I think it’s better than both the 1990 and the 2003 (debatable, but the 2009 is certainly more consistent), and this legendary Hermitage will continue to drink brilliantly for another 20-30 years and have a gradual decline thereafter as well.” (2024) www.jebdunnuck.com Drink 2024-2054

100 pts Robert Parker

“The greatest wines Chave has produced since 2003 are the two cuvees of 2009 Hermitage. The 2009 Hermitage exhibits a black/purple color along with a sumptuous nose of roasted meats, ground pepper, black currants, blackberry jam, and subtle smoke and licorice. The extraordinary bouquet is followed by a wine of extravagant intensity as well as tremendous focus and precision. While not as powerful as the blockbuster 2003, the amazing 2009 may turn out to be a modern day version of their magnificent 1990 (which is drinking incredibly well at present). Anyone who loves Hermitage and has a cold cellar should be lining up to get a few bottles of this beauty.” (2011) www.robertparker.com Drink 2024-2054

2014 Jean-Louis Chave, Hermitage

£1,475 per case (6*75cl OC) in bond – 1 case available

92 pts Vinous’s Josh Raynolds

“Lurid purple. A deeply perfumed bouquet evokes ripe black and blue fruits, olive and peppery spices, and a suave floral overtone builds in the glass. Coats the palate with sweet, nicely concentrated blackberry, boysenberry and violet pastille flavors that unfurl slowly. Youthful tannins shape the finish, which hangs on with strong, dark-fruit-driven tenacity. This is a more brooding, densely packed wine than most 2014s and should be a solid cellar candidate.” (2017) www.vinous.com

2015 Jean-Louis Chave, Hermitage

£2,230 per case (6*75cl OC) in bond – 1 case available

100 pts Jeb Dunnuck

“As good as Hermitage can get, the 2015 Hermitage from Jean-Louis Chave reminds me of a hypothetical mix of the 2010 and 1990 with its incredible purity, finesse, and elegant paired with awesome depth and structure. This heavenly wine exhibits a deep purple color as well as a powerful bouquet of crème de cassis, blackberries, dried violets, graphite, and crushed rocks, with a liquid mineral component that’s just about impossible to find outside of the Bessards lieu-dit in Hermitage. Full-bodied and massively concentrated on the palate, yet with laser-like precision and clarity, it needs a solid decade of cellaring and will keep for 40+ years or more. It’s not as sexy or overt as the Cuvee Cathelin, but is every bit as good.” (2018) www.jebdunnuck.com Drink 2028-2068

2017 Jean-Louis Chave, Hermitage Blanc

£1,300 per case (6*75cl OC) in bond – 1 case available

98+ pts Wine Advocate Joe Czerwinski

“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.” (2019) www.robertparker.com Drink 2020-2040

2019 Jean-Louis Chave, Hermitage

£1,800 per case (6*75cl OC) in bond – 1 case available

98+ pts Jeb Dunnuck

“A powerhouse of a wine that flirts with perfection, the 2019 Hermitage reveals a dense purple hue as well as an extraordinary bouquet of sweet blue fruits supported by notes of crushed stone, lead pencil, leather, and ground pepper, with hints of flowers in the background. Full-bodied, stunningly pure, and massively concentrated, yet with riveting precision and elegance, it needs to be hidden in the back of the cellar for a decade and will evolve for 30, 40, if not 50 years. Tasting the trilogy of the 2018, 2019, and 2020 over the coming decades will be the equivalent of wine nirvana.” (2022) www.jebdunnuck.com Drink 2032-2059

2020 Jean-Louis Chave, Hermitage

£1,650 per case (6*75cl OC) in bond – 4 case available

98+ pts Jeb Dunnuck

“Moving to the reds from bottle, both these 2020s have incredibly concentrated, pure, focused styles that remind me of 2010. The 2020 Hermitage is inky hued, with sensational notes of red, blue, and black fruit as well liquid rock, graphite, burning embers, saddle leather, and hints of candied orange zest. It’s a massive, concentrated, powerful wine, yet it stays balanced, has a good sense of freshness, building tannins, and a great finish. As with most great vintages here, it’s going to need a decade of bottle age to shed its baby fat and will be a classic Hermitage to enjoy over the following 30 years or so.” (2024) www.jebdunnuck.com Drink 2034-2064

2020 Jean-Louis Chave, St Joseph Clos Florentin

£1,500 per case (6*75cl OC) in bond – 2 case available

95-97 pts Vinous’s Josh Raynolds

“Deep, bright-hued violet. Highly perfumed, mineral-accented cherry liqueur, cassis, candied licorice, incense and black pepper aromas show outstanding clarity and floral lift. Stains the palate with intense black and blue fruit, smoky bacon, star anise and floral pastille flavors that possess unlikely energy for their depth. The mineral and floral notes drive a strikingly long, vibrant finish that showcases resonating cherry, floral and mineral notes.” (2022) www.vinous.com

2021 Jean-Louis Chave, Hermitage

£1,380 per case (6*75cl OC) in bond – 1 case available

98 pts James Suckling

“An incredibly refined, elegant, floral and silky Hermitage. The nose shows notes of dark cherries, forest berries, sweet spices, forest floor and a hint of roasted meat. Medium-bodied with finely grained tannins. It’s very 2021, with freshness and brightness. Violets caress the palate and the pristine, lively finish with length and a touch of pepper. Drink or hold.”” (2024) www.jamessuckling.com 

2021 Jean-Louis Chave, St Joseph

£295 per case (6*75cl OC) in bond – 1 case available

93 pts Jeb Dunnuck

“The 2021 Saint Joseph is absolutely brilliant and, given the difficulties in the vintage, has no business being this good! Sporting a deep ruby/purple hue as well as brilliant aromatics of ripe darker fruits, some meaty, bloody nuances, graphite, and ground pepper, with a beautiful floral character emerging with time in the glass, it’s medium-bodied, has a seamless, elegant mouthfeel, no hard edges, and outstanding length.” (2024) www.jebdunnuck.com Drink 2024-2034

2021 Jean-Louis Chave, Hermitage Blanc

£1,020 per case (6*75cl OC) in bond – 1 case available

95+ pts Jeb Dunnuck

“Recently bottled, the 2021 Hermitage Blanc is a brilliant wine that shows a fresher, more mineral-driven style while still clearly being in the classic Jean-Louis concentrated, textured style. White currants, crushed citrus, flowers, green almond, and a kiss of reductive-like minerality all define the aromatics, and if you called this a great Grand Cru White Burgundy in a blind tasting, I wouldn’t hold it against you. Medium to full-bodied, concentrated, and beautifully balanced, with a terrific salinity on the finish, it’s going to benefit from a year or two of bottle age and I suspect evolve for 20-25 years.” (2024) www.jebdunnuck.com Drink 2025-2051

Offered subject to final confirmation and remaining unsold. Available in 8-12 weeks in the UK. Offer expires 7th December 2024.