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Tasting notes
While a bottle of the 2021 Hermitage was slightly off during my tasting with Liz, I pulled a bottle from my cellar for the report. Showing consistently from when I tasted it on release at the estate, the 2021 is a classy Hermitage that's as good as anything in the vintage, offering solid ripeness in its red and black fruits as well as peppery herb, sappy flower, leather, and gamey aromas and flavors. Cut from the same cloth as the 2014, it's medium-bodied, has a soft, supple mouthfeel, moderate tannins, and beautiful overall balance. It's going to be on a faster evolutionary track and, I suspect, will hit the early stages of its prime drinking wine in another 4-5 years and keep for two decades.
Critic scores
Average Score
Alistair Cooper MW, jancisrobinson.com
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
The refined 2021 L'Hermitage was cropped at 37 hL/ha and bottled in early September 2023. It is laced with finely delineated orange rind, raspberry, red cherry, red plum, dried herbs, pencil shavings, black cherry, crushed violet and cedar. Showing excellent tension on the medium-bodied palate, the 2021 brings it home with clarity and freshness. That being said, it won’t be as long lived as either the 2020 or 2022.
Cask samples tasted at the domaine. Sample 1 : L’Hermite Showing a little bit of reduction – popcorn and gunflint. Great acidity and precision on the palate. Tight, grippy and wonderful texture. Lots of intensity alongside the zippy core. Sample 2 : Péléat Rich, textured and honeyed. Honeysuckle on the palate with a floral tinge. Sample 3 : Rocoules Oak is showing. Ripe and dense palate with lots of weight. (AC)
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.