Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage 2005

Domaine Chaves red Eremitage stands out from the other wines of the appellation for its rather unusual journey: often very closed in its youth, seeming to suggest little development, it finally opens up, sometimes after many years, thus undergoing a true metamorphosis. Patient connoisseurs can then discover a nectar in full bloom, with an exceptional potential to keep - half a century in the case of a good year. Full-bodied and concentrated, beautifully complex and effervescent, it develops a wide range of flavors ranging from blackcurrant to smoky, through roasted notes of prune, leather and spices.
ABOUT THE PRODUCER JEAN-LOUIS CHAVE
The Chave family has been making wine in the Rhone since the late 15th century, when a local lord gave them a vineyard. Jean-Louis Chave, son of Gérard, currently heads this mythical estate on the Colline de l'Hermitage and continues to challenge himself. The most recent of these was his acquisition of the phylloxera-ravaged Clos Florentin in 2009. He also revived some vineyard plots on the slopes of Bachasson in the Saint-Joseph appellation in the 1990s. The domaine strives to bring out the best in its terroir, but does not produce single-pack wines or "super cuvées". The only exception to this is the cuvée Cathelin, which is named after a deceased artistic friend of the winemaker. This cuvée has only been produced in notable years, and production is limited to 2000 bottles. Jean-Louis Chave strives to maintain the domaine’s distinctive wine style and remain true to the ancestral practices that created its reputation. This means carefully controlled yields, no artificial herbicides or fertilizers, harvesting grapes as late as possible to achieve optimal ripening, and a very low-intervention winemaking process so that the wine can develop as it wishes. Each parcel’s crop is vinified and barrel-aged separately, allowing it to fully express its distinctive character. This is what gives the final blend its beautiful complexity.
The wine is stored in a cellar at approximately 112-14 degrees in the dark.