Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Saint Joseph 2023
(Northern Rhone, France) - [JD 95] [DM 93] [VM 93]

Notes from the Winemaker:

95 Points - Jeb Dunnuck:

Beautiful red and blue fruits, violets, leather, peppery herbs, and bouquet garni notes all emerge from the 2023 Saint Joseph, a medium to full-bodied effort that has a round, supple, pure style. It has ripe, polished tannins and a seamless, layered profile that's going to shine for two decades, if not more. Although I love it today, it will benefit from 2-3 years of bottle age.

This iconic estate continues to set the standard for both red and white Hermitage, and few tasting experiences compare to time spent with Jean-Louis Chave in the family's cellars in Mauves. Founded in 1481 and passed down through generations, the domaine farms 14.5 hectares on the Hermitage hill, including parcels in Bessards, L'Ermite, Le Méal, Beaume, and Péléat. All the Hermitage parcels are vinified separately using a mix of stainless steel tanks and oak uprights, with élevage in barrel (20-30% new), and the final blend is assembled before bottling. The Hermitage Blanc comes from Rocoules, Les Murets, and l'Ermite, and is based largely on Marsanne from 60- to 100-year-old vines. It sees full malolactic fermentation and is aged on lees in barrel. In addition to the flagship Hermitage, Chave occasionally releases a special Cuvée Cathelin, sourced primarily from Bessards and aged slightly longer in oak. It's only produced in top vintages and in tiny quantities, and good luck finding any! The domaine also produces a rare Hermitage Vin de Paille, made from Marsanne dried on straw mats and aged several years before release. I've only seen this bottling at the estate, but it's a heavenly dessert wine if there ever was one. In Saint Joseph, Chave has now spent over a decade reviving historic hillside vineyards. The estate Saint Joseph comes from granitic sites near Mauves and Tournon, while the Clos Florentin is a single parcel on sandier, south-facing soils. Both are destemmed and aged in oak but show different profiles - the former more classic and mineral-driven, the latter rounder and more elegant. A new cellar was completed in 2014, but the style here remains deeply rooted in tradition. These are benchmark Northern Rhône wines, built for aging and made with clarity, purpose, and precision. It would probably be impossible to have too much Chave in a cellar.

93 Points - Decanter:
A tasting of the constituent parts suggests that this will be an elegant, refined style of vintage without a big tannic frame. Acidity will be softer, more lactic than a typical year. Should drink well early and isn't likely to be one of the longest-lived vintages of this cuvée. (MW)



93 Points - Vinous:
Vinified with roughly 30% whole clusters, the 2023 Saint-Joseph reveals first impressions of highly fragrant orange blossom, dried violets and red cherry inflections. Midweight, round and refined, the markedly fresh 2023 can be enjoyed right out of the gate and I doubt it will ever close down. (NG)