Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage Farconnet Rouge 2017

Perhaps more than any other producer Domaine Jean-Louis Chave is an institution. The Keith Richards of the winemaking world; no one is entirely sure what force is keeping it going, perhaps a magic moisturiser or a Dorian Gray style painting in the attic but both seem destined to perennially blow minds in their respective fields.

The Chaves started growing vines on the famous hill of Hermitage before Louis lost his head, Henry VIII got fat or the Plantagenets became insignificant. Since 1481, wines such as this, with incredible power, yet grace, rich with flavours of blackberry, bramble, cocoa, black pepper, violets and leather have never failed to delight their drinkers. Long may it reign!

The Chave family is based in a small village on the northern right bank of the Rhone. There have been Chaves growing vines on the famous Hermitage hill since 1481. Gerard Chave took over from his father in 1970 and rapidly achieved megastar status due to the extraordinary quality of his wines and has since passed on the winemaking responsibilities to his son Jean-Louis. The Chave’s methods for all their winemaking are traditional farming, super low yields, full ripeness, and minimal manipulation. Their unmatched meticulousness continues through five centuries to render venerable expressions of the purest of Rhône terroir.
The Chave family's methods for their winemaking include tr-aditional farming, super low yields, full ripeness, and minimal manipulation. Their unmatched meticulousness continues through five centuries to render venerable expressions of the purest of northern Rhône terroir.
The grapes come from 3 distinctive parts of the Hermitage hill. The majority of the blend comes from Diognières, which is at the base of the hill on alluvial soil with many small pebbles. It lends a note of spice to the wine. The next parcel is Péleat. It sits above Diognières and is composed of more sand and limestone in the clay. It gives finesse to the wine. And finally, Greffieux sits at the base of Le Méal on the hill. Its soil consists of rolled river stones brought by the glaciers. It brings structure to the finished wine.