JL CHAVE SELECTION

The Chave family is the epitome of 'People, Place and Time'. They have been vignerons in the Rhône valley since 1481 - an astonishing 16 generations. Originally the family farmed only in St. Joseph, moving to Hermitage about a century ago when phylloxera swept through the region. Today Chave Hermitage Rouge and Hermitage Blanc are generally regarded as the appellation's greatest wines. In recent years Jean Louis has begun the painstaking process of restoring the steep St. Joseph terraces that his family has farmed for centuries, and has slowly begun to acquire and restore the steep plots that were abandoned in the wake of pyhlloxera (today most of the AC's production comes from the valley bottom and not the steep well exposed hillsides). This is very compelling news for lovers of Rhône wines since historically St. Joseph has been the most underrated appellation in the Northern Rhône. Jean Louis has also begun producing négociant wines under the name JL Chave Selection. The 'Mon Coeur' Côtes-du-Rhône , 'Offerus' St. Joseph, 'Silene' Crozes-Hermitage, 'Blanche' Hermitage Blanc, 'Farconnet' Hermitage Rouge all provide enlightening insights into the talent of Jean-Louis, who Robert Parker calls one of "the planet's greatest winemakers".

Reviews for this winery

In an age where social media and being ‘out there’ is deemed so important by our society, it is entirely refreshing to spend time with Chave. The intricacy of the human condition and its relationship with our planet are themes that ripple through one’s contact with him, a king in his countryside.

John Livingstone-Learmonth, June 2017

These wines, which often contain a healthy percentage of Domaine J.L. Chave domaine fruit, are not Chave Lite, as many retailers are prone to suggest. These tend to be rounder, fruit-forward and more approachable than the domaine wines, which are extremely long-lived and deserving of extended cellaring. They have steadily become more intensely perfumed and flavored in recent years, with the Crozes-Hermitage Silène of particular interest. It’s made from vines in the granitic soils of the northern sector. At least half of the fruit comes from a young vineyard that Chaves owns, planted and farms, so one can understand the potential quality.

Josh Raynolds, December 2022