2016 Hermitage Blanc
Buying options
Tasting notes
Brilliant straw-yellow. Heady lemon, pear nectar, iodine and toasted brioche qualities on the deeply perfumed, mineral-accented nose. Juicy and expansive in the mouth, offering densely packed citrus, orchard fruit and sweet butter flavors that show outstanding clarity and emphatic mineral thrust. Conveys superb energy on the endless finish, which features a sexy floral quality and a powerful snap of smoky minerality.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
Josh Raynolds, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Remarkably concentrated yet poised, with acacia and honeysuckle notes leading the way for a core of creamed melon, quince, mirabelle plum and white nectarine flavors. The long brioche- and salted butter–fueled finish shows terrific cut for a wine of this weight, ending with a lingering beeswax hint. A stunner. Marsanne and Roussanne. 47 cases imported.
There's not much of the 2016 Hermitage Blanc to go around due to hail in the springtime, yet the resulting wine is another magical effort from this domaine. Bottled in August, it opens up with a fabulous blast of quince, white flowers, buttered citrus, licorice, and exotic spices. These all carry over to the palate, where the wine is full-bodied, rounded, and incredibly sexy, with a layered, mouthfilling texture. It doesn't have the sheer weight of the 2009 and 2010, but is deep, opulent, with plenty of fat and glycerin, and straight-up awesome purity of fruit. If you're lucky enough to have more than one bottle, it's an incredible drink today and should continue to shine for another 2-3 years. After that, I'd hold off for a good 6-7 years or more.
Buttery, fleshy, rich and honeyed. Expressive and substantial. Long, layered and warm in alcohol. Absolutely superb balance and so lengthy.
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.