2001 Hermitage Blanc
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Tasting notes
Pure, subtle aromas of yellow plum, spices, flowers and nutty oak. At once sweet and gripping, with a glyceral middle given shape by flavors of lemon skin and spices. Very subtle and very long, finishing with terrific backbone.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
I tasted component parts of the 2001 Hermitage blanc. Aromas of acacia flowers, honeysuckle, and citrus were followed by a medium to full-bodied white with loads of glycerin as well as heady fruit and alcohol. Elegant, medium to full-bodied, and crisper, it is more obviously backward than the 2000. This family-run estate continues to go from strength to strength, with the father and son (Gerard and Jean-Louis) team pushing all the right buttons to achieve success at all quality levels. Jean-Louis Chave is responsible for several negociant wines. Importers: Langdon Shiverick, Cleveland, OH; tel. (216) 861-6800 and Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant, Berkeley, CA; tel. (510) 524-1524
From Rocoules: Musky citrus and mineral aromas of noteworthy vivacity. Then rich and fat in the mouth, with considerable volume. From Peleat: Lemon and mandarin orange on the nose. Intense flavor of pineapple, slightly hardened by the CO2 From Maison Blanche (in stainless steel, like the last couple of samples): Exotic aromas of mirabelle and white flowers. Fresh and juicy but also chewy, even powerful. A bit more raw in the mouth, with a liqueur-like ripeness. From L'Hermite, in barrel: Hazelnut and spicy oak dominate the nose. Juicy, fruity and quite dry, with a tight supporting mineral structure. A rather uncompromising sample. L'Hermite contributes backbone to the blend.
About the producer
The Chaves have been growing grapes in the Northern Rhône since 1481. Jean-Louis Chave is the 16th generation to head up the family domaine, having taken over from his father in 1992.