Ratings & Tasting Notes:
100 points Wine Advocate
The greatest wines Chave has produced since 2003 are the two cuvées 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. (RP)
100 points 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.
98 points Wine Spectator
Captivating from the start, with gorgeous ganache and Lapsang souchong aromas that give way to an immense core of crushed plum, braised fig and steeped blackberry notes, all woven with pastis, loam and charcoal. Shows terrific density and drive through the long, well-structured finish. This has the fruit of the vintage in spades, but with an extra dimension of grip and length. *Collectibles* (JM)
Cult Wines International Notes:
Domaine Jean-Louis Chave is a revered, multi-generational estate in the Northern Rhône Valley, particularly celebrated for its iconic Hermitage wines. With a history dating back centuries, the domaine is synonymous with traditional, meticulous winemaking that emphasizes the unique terroir of its various Hermitage lieux-dits. They are renowned for producing powerful and age-worthy Syrah-based red Hermitage, characterized by complex dark fruit, spice, and earthy notes, as well as rare and rich white Hermitage crafted from Marsanne and Roussanne. Chave’s philosophy centers on low intervention, allowing the distinct characteristics of their old vines and diverse vineyard sites to express themselves fully, resulting in wines of profound depth, complexity, and longevity that are considered benchmarks of the Rhône Valley.
750 mL
Storage History:
Always stored on its side in a climate-controlled cellar.
Condition:
Please note: The bottle shown is the exact bottle being sold.
Outstanding condition.
