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"There can be no doubt that Jean-Loius and his papa, Gerard Chave...are among the planet's greatest winemakers"
Robert Parker,
The World's Greatest Wine Estates
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JL Chave Selections
'Mon Coeur' Côtes-du-Rhône AC 2011
REGION: Rhône Valley
VARIETALS: Syrah & Grenache
PRICE: $29.00/bottle
FORMAT: 12 x 750ml
AVAILABILITY: 50 cases
DRINKABILITY: 3-10 years
Please note that the 2011 vintage has not yet been rated. Stephen Tanzer's comments on the 2010 vintage were as follows:
90 POINTS - Stephen Tanzer (May 2012)
"Deep ruby. Pungent, spice-accented aromas of black and blue fruits, olive and cola, with a sexy floral quality gaining strength with air. At once deep and lively, with powerful blueberry and bitter cherry flavors given spine and lift by smoky minerality. Closes with excellent clarity and length, leaving notes of violet and berry preserves behind. This wine always punches well above its weight; Jean-Louis Chave told me he buys fruit "only from great appellations."
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 | | JL Chave signage to his cellar in Mauves - a rare treat to visit |
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 two négociant style wines: 'Offerus' St. Joseph and today's Côtes-du-Rhône offering. Both allow beautiful insight into the talent of one of "the planet's greatest winemakers" at bargain prices.
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