2021 Hermitage Blanc – Domaine Jean-Louis Chave

Domaine Jean-Louis Chave

If you’re responsible for a winery that has been in the family for an incredible 600 years, you might think twice before introducing innovations in winemaking. Chave has been around since 1481, based in Mauves, on the right bank of the Rhône, just below Hermitage. The Chave family possesses world-class vineyards, centuries of experience, and an incredibly sharp instinct. This combination results in highly sought-after wines that are bursting with minerality and finesse.
After studying at the University of Hartford in Connecticut and later at Davis in California, Jean-Louis Chave took over the Domaine in 2000 (along with his American wife) and continues the centuries-old family heritage with a conscious commitment to tradition. He avoids bottling outrageously expensive single-vineyard wines and instead follows the path of blending different individual plots, as is common in the region. In Hermitage, the Chaves alone manage seven “climats” (vineyard plots). Since Hermitage wines are always sold out at extremely high prices, Jean-Louis also dedicated himself to other terroirs. He buys grapes from winemaker friends, including from St. Joseph, and bottles them under his own name.