Domaine Jean-Louis Chave
Overview
Domaine Jean-Louis Chave (Gérard Chave, now Jean-Louis Chave) is the reference producer of Hermitage and one of the greatest domaines in France. Based in Mauves, the family has made Hermitage since 1481. Gérard Chave was the legendary steward for decades; his son Jean-Louis now runs the estate. Both the red Hermitage (assemblage of multiple parcels including Bessards, Méal, Peleat, Beaumes, Diognières) and white (Marsanne/Roussanne from Péléat, Rocoules) are benchmarks for their types.
The domaine also makes Saint-Joseph rouge and blanc. The négociant label “J.L. Chave Sélection” is separate from the estate wines.
Key Wines
- Hermitage Rouge — assemblage of granite and gneiss parcels; “Cuvée Cathelin” made in exceptional years only
- Hermitage Blanc — one of the world’s longest-lived white wines
- Saint-Joseph Rouge — 100% Syrah from old vines; exceptional value relative to Hermitage
- Saint-Joseph Blanc — Marsanne/Roussanne
My Cellar
205 total bottles (27 recent) — second-largest producer position in cellar.
- Hermitage: 158 btls (55 pending), vintages from 1992–2023 (deep vertical)
- Saint-Joseph: 47 btls (24 pending), 2013–2023
A comprehensive vertical cellar — includes iconic vintages (1996, 1997, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008).
Consumption Notes
- Saint-Joseph 2012: “Delicious.” (Feb 2021 note)
Style Notes
Classic Hermitage: dark, savory, tannic when young; opens over 10–20+ years to extraordinary complexity of olive, graphite, black fruit, smoke, and earth. The whites are among the world’s most ageworthy — Marsanne develops slowly to honeyed minerals, wax, and smoke.
My Tastings
Tasting Notes (from VFTC #119)
- 1988 Hermitage Rouge: Rated 92. Gilman notes this particular bottle appears to have been a lesser blend — in the 1980s, Gérard Chave sold slightly different cuvées to different importers. “I have drunk far superior bottles of the 1988 Hermitage from Gérard in the past from different importers.” Still a very good wine: bright, high-toned, balanced. Drinking window: 2024–2050.
Context note: The 2023 Sorrel “le Gréal” was compared by Gilman to Chave’s 1990 and 1991 Hermitage, underscoring the continued use of Chave as the benchmark for assessing young Hermitage.
Producer Profile (JLL / drinkRhone.com)
An STGT domaine that produces supremely elegant wines with superb pedigree from the core of the Hermitage hill. In summer 2025, the red Hermitage holding of 9.3 hectares was increased by the purchase of a 0.7 hectare vineyard at the top and east of Le Meal, planted by Michel Ferraton in the 1960s, bought from Ferraton’s owner Chapoutier. This will bring greater richness and depth to balance the sometimes acute granite notes of Bessards.
Winemaking philosophy: Grand finesse and world-class quality. The reds can live around 30 years and occasionally longer, though recent vintages have softened and drink from an earlier date. The 2019 red is inspired by Le Meal, the 2020 by Les Bessards’ cool smokiness. No new oak ideology; calm, unhurried cellar work.
Cuvee Cathelin: Named after the family’s friend, the late painter Bernard Cathelin. Most recently issued in 2015 and 2020 (bottled February 2023). Only 1,000-2,000 bottles plus larger formats. The 2015 was a magnificently rich, Le Meal-influenced wine; the 2020 is more Bessards-influenced, a wine of tremendous silk, balance, and mystery.
White Hermitage: Around 80-85% Marsanne, 15-20% Roussanne. In the late 2010s, their L’Hermite white vineyard has been harvested earlier, contributing increased freshness. The whites show particularly well from around six to seven years old, developing wondrous complexity.
Saint-Joseph: Jean-Louis sees these as the real heritage for his Ardechois, right-bank family and has invested heavily, planting impeccably walled terrace vineyards notably at Lemps. From 2015, a 3,000-bottle Saint-Joseph Clos Florentin red from 100-year-old Syrah on the longtime organic suntrap vineyard of Clos de l’Arbalestrier at Mauves (bought in 2000). It offers elegance with power.
Negociant range (J-L Chave Selection): Hermitage Farconnet red, Blanche white; Saint-Joseph Offerus red, Circa white; Crozes-Hermitage Silene red; Cotes du Rhone Mon Coeur red (drawn from Vinsobres, Rasteau, Visan). Designed as easy-drinking, fun wines.
Location: 37 Avenue de Saint-Joseph le Village, 07300 Mauves. Export markets: 1) USA, 2) GB, 3) Belgium.
Key Wines & Vintage Notes (JLL / drinkRhone.com)
Hermitage Rouge
100% Syrah from core Les Bessards (rocky granite), L’Hermite, Peleat, Le Meal, Beaumes, Mortine. Mostly destemmed, aged 5-15% new oak plus 1-5 year 228-litre casks for 26 months. Unfined.
| Vintage | Rating | Drinking Window | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | ★★★★(★) | — | Pre-blend cask tastings; promising, compact juice, floral finishes. “25-30 years” |
| 2023 | ★★★★ | — | Pre-blend; easy richness, spherical, gourmand, fine grain tannins |
| 2022 | ★★★★(★) | 2056-60 | Burgundian elegance from Peleat; compact ripeness, southern warmth from Meal |
| 2021 | — | 2053-55 | Pinot-ripe cooked plum, cosy gras, tempting, finesse-led |
| 2020 | ★★★★★–★★★★★★ | 2055-57 | Bessards-marked vintage; silky texture, smoky coolness. “A very great Hermitage” |
| 2019 | ★★★★★–★★★★★★ | 2056-58 | Meal-inspired, cool vs sun. “Verging on six stars if everything clicks” |
| 2018 | ★★★★–★★★★★ | — | Concentrated yet elegant; not forced, Hermitage poise at its centre |
| 2015 | ★★★★★★ | 2053-57 | ”A true, full-blooded Hermitage, broad and extremely long.” Sun-swept strength |
| 2010 | ★★★★★★ | 2049-55 | ”Works on all fronts — depth, persistence, pockets of fragrance. Tres Grand Vin” |
| 2009 | ★★★★★★ | 2038-45 | L’Hermite and Bessards drive; heading for a complex future |
Ermitage Cathelin
Mainly Meal and Bessards; selected after 18 months of cask raising. Made in: 1990, 1991, 1995, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2020. Only 1,000-2,500 bottles.
| Vintage | Rating | Drinking Window | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | ★★★★★★ | 2058-62 | Bessards-influenced; “Burgundian refinement all through… like a small arrow, all in precision” — J-L Chave. Bottled Feb 2023 |
| 2015 | ★★★★★+ | 2056-60 | Meal-influenced; magnificently rich, sturdy heartbeat, spice, iron, plum |
| 2009 | — | 2048-55 | ”Heroic wine… richness and decisive cut that Hermitage should show” — largely Bessards |
| 2003 | — | 2040-45 | ”Off the scale… enormous puissance, and then the acidity arrives” — Gerard Chave |
Hermitage Blanc
80-85% Marsanne, 15-20% Roussanne from Rocoules, Peleat, L’Hermite, Maison Blanche. 80-90% oak fermented.
| Vintage | Rating | Drinking Window | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | ★★★★★ | 2051-53 | ”Extremely promising, balance, length, style” |
| 2022 | ★★★★(★) | 2047-49 | Beautiful white with precision and prompts |
| 2020 | ★★★★★ (possibly ★★★★★★) | 2048-50 | ”A major Hermitage blanc vintage, arresting, varied, full of prompts and nuances” |
| 2018 | ★★★★★–★★★★★★ | — | “Supreme Hermitage blanc, with finesse high on the agenda” |
Saint-Joseph Domaine Chave Rouge
| Vintage | Rating | Drinking Window | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | ★★★★(★) | 2046-48 | ”Much promise… close to five stars” |
| 2023 | — | 2041-43 | Well-measured, elegant |
| 2022 | ★★★★(★) | 2044-46 | Granite origins truthful, Burgundian |
| 2020 | ★★★★(★) | 2047-49 | Thorough and complete |
Saint-Joseph Clos Florentin Rouge
From 1910s Syrah on Le Clos de l’Arbalestrier at Mauves. First wine 2015. 2,000-3,000 bottles.
| Vintage | Rating | Drinking Window | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | — | 2047-49 | ”Lovely essence of the Syrah from granite… Burgundian” |
| 2020 | — | 2047-49 | Tight richness, layered, complex, aromatic aftertaste of roses |
| 2019 | — | 2048-50 | ”Super elegant, glides along… classy, balanced, all fits together like a glove” |
| 2018 | — | 2045-47 | ”Pinote aspect, Burgundian style, very elegant” |
Negociant Highlights
- Hermitage Farconnet red: Good-value Hermitage; 2020 ★★★★ (2044-46), 2018 ★★★(★) to ★★★★★ “if left”
- Saint-Joseph Offerus red: Accurate granite Syrah picture; 2022 (2035-37), 2014 was “caressing wine” of high purity
- Hermitage Blanche white: 2020 stylish seducer (2039-41), 2016 elegant (2036-38)
2019: Hermitage Rouge five-to-six stars (“verging on six stars if everything clicks”), inspired by Le Méal. Saint-Joseph Clos Florentin: “super elegant, glides along… classy, balanced, all fits together like a glove.” The “phantom vintage” — Covid prevented most critics from tasting. See 2019 Rhone Vintage.
2018: Hermitage Rouge four-to-five stars (“concentrated yet elegant; not forced, Hermitage poise at its centre”). Hermitage Blanc five-to-six stars (“supreme Hermitage blanc, with finesse high on the agenda”). Clos Florentin: “Pinot aspect, Burgundian style, very elegant.” JLL notes that Chave’s vine-arc training for canopy management was exemplary in this extreme heat year. See 2018 Rhone Vintage.
2015: Hermitage Rouge six stars (“a true, full-blooded Hermitage, broad and extremely long”). Cuvée Cathelin was made — Méal-influenced, “magnificently rich, sturdy heartbeat, spice, iron, plum.” First vintage of Saint-Joseph Clos Florentin from 100-year-old Syrah. Marcel Guigal declared 2015 “the vintage of his lifetime.” See 2015 Rhone Vintage.
2014: Hermitage generally good but not great. The role of the top climats was important this year. Jean-Louis Chave noted oïdium hit the hillside vines. Whites fared better than reds. See 2014 Rhone Vintage.
2013: Hermitage Rouge five stars. A very good vintage — perhaps shading 2012 at the top. Richer, deeper base than 2012 while retaining freshness. An excellent year for Marsanne-based whites. See 2013 Rhone Vintage.
2010: Hermitage Rouge six stars. Excellent vintage — fresh, balanced, no excess power. Jacques Grange of Delas: “2010 is air-filled, tight, precise.” The wines can live 25-30 years. See 2010 Rhone Vintage.
2009: Hermitage Rouge six stars; Cuvée Cathelin also six stars. Outstanding across Hermitage — a magnificent vintage of concentration and depth. See 2009 Rhone Vintage.
2005: JLL’s first encounter with Hermitage 2005 was in early December 2005 chez Jean-Louis Chave, tasting just a few recently fermented vats. “Even I, the Cautious One, was persuaded that this was indeed a Mighty Year.” Nothing deviated since — the wines are classy, complete. JLL places 2005 in the realm of 1978. See 2005 Rhone Vintage.
See also: 2022 Rhone Vintage, 2023 Rhone Vintage, 2024 Rhone Vintage
Sources
sources/articles/VFTC/VFTC Sept-Oct 2025 #119.txt— Annual Rhône Report (John Gilman, October 2025)sources/articles/JLL/Domaine_Jean-Louis_Chave.txtsources/articles/JLL/rhone_wines_data.json— Wine-by-wine vintage notes (JLL / drinkRhone.com)sources/articles/JLL/rhone_vintage_reports.json— JLL vintage reports 2005