Grapes: 100% Syrah

From a lineage stretching back to 1481, Jean-Louis Chave crafts wines that are the purest expression of Hermitage's diverse and revered terroir. The 2022 vintage, born from a dry yet skillfully managed growing season, delivers a truly remarkable Syrah that showcases both power and an extraordinary sense of balance.

Despite the challenges of a warm, dry year, Chave's deep understanding of his lieux-dits (individual vineyard parcels) has allowed him to produce a Hermitage that defies expectations. The granitic soils of parcels like L'Ermite and Les Bessards yielded Syrah with intense structure and finesse, while the clay-based terroirs of Le Méal and Les Beaumes contributed incredible richness and aromatic complexity. The result is a wine that is concentrated and powerful, yet remarkably fresh and lifted, avoiding any overt "warm" character. Critics are already hailing its purity, balance, and incredible minerality, with many comparing its focused, firmer style to the esteemed 1998 vintage, but with an added touch of sun-kissed fruit.

While the 2022 Hermitage Rouge already displays remarkable purity and balance, its inherent structure and profound minerality indicate a wine built for the long haul. This is an investment for your cellar, destined to evolve into something truly magnificent over the next 25-40 years. Patience will be handsomely rewarded.

Decanter: 98 Points