Yann Chave - Hermitage 2018

Beautifully crafted from Syrah grapes taken from the Chave family’s Hermitage vineyards near the village of Mercurol in the northern Rhone. The vineyards` south-west exposure ensures extended sunshine hours, and the wine is aged for 12 months in large 600-litre barrels, so as not to over-oak Syrah`s delicate, complex notes.

Once properly decanted, the nose will reveal blackberry jam, licorice, roasted meat, and spice. Full bodied and very generous on the palate with ripe fruit, smoke, black cherry, olive brine, black pepper, game, and very tactile tannins. Can be cellared for 10-15 years.

Pairings: Venison, olive tapenade stuffed leg of lamb, pulled pork

Yann Chave produces gloriously aromatic Syrah from the Rhone Valley in France. Yann makes only a few barrels of his Hermitage, a rich, concentrated wine of great power and personality. 

Cellar worthy Syrah from this small estate in Hermitage (1.20 hectares). Chave’s bottling is a blend of two very small plots - one in Baumes (next to Le Meal), and the other in Peleat. Both feature exemplary 30+ year old vines grown in loess soil. Aged in 600L demi-muids for 18 months to not overly oak the wines.

 

Gorgeous black raspberry and cassis fruits as well as complex saddle leather, dried flower, spice, and stony minerality all emerge from the 2018 Hermitage. One of the finest wines I've tasted from Yann Chave, this beautiful wine is full-bodied and has a rounded, expansive texture, building tannins, and again, a wonderful sense of minerality. This stunning Hermitage will benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age and cruise for two decades. Bravo!