1996 Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage

Jean-Louis Chave is a 37.5-acre estate in Hermitage, in the Rhone Valley, and it is universally admired as one of the world’s great wine estates. Robert M. Parker Jr., a self-proclaimed fan, has called Jean-Louis and Gerard Chave, the son and father who run the estate, some “of this planet’s greatest winemakers.” Winemakers for six centuries, the Chave family produces red and white Hermitages, and a special Hermitage Cuvee Cathelin. The only grapes grown are Syrah for the reds and Roussanne and Marsanne for the white Hermitage. There are about 30,000 bottles of red Hermitage produced annually, 15,000 bottles of white, and 2,500 bottles of Cuvee Cathelin, which is only produced in vintages when the Chaves believe the harvest is good enough to be turned into the luxury cuvee.

The Northern Rhône Valley wine region hugs the Rhône River from Vienne in the north to Valence at its southern tip. The French call the region Côtes du Rhône Septentrionales, and it is divided into eight appellations. Along with its neighbor to the south, the Southern Rhone Valley, it is famous for its big, tannic, intensely concentrated wines. Syrah is the only red grape permitted in AOC wines from this sub-region, though the Syrah can be blended with the white wine grapes Viognier, Marsanne and Roussanne, depending on the regulations for each AOC. White wines are made from Viognier, Marsanne and Roussanne. Of the eight appellations in the north, the most admired wines tend to come from Côte-Rôtie, Condrieu and Hermitage, though there are certainly exceptional wines to be found in St. Joseph, Crozes-Hermitage, St.-Peray, Crozes-Hermitage and Cornas. Along with Bordeaux, Burgundy and Champagne, Rhône wines are among France’s best known and most collected wines. Red wines from these appellations are notable for their signature aromas of bacon and green olives, and for their depth. Robert M. Parker, a great champion of Rhone wines, has written that “the northern Rhône produces three of the greatest wines in the world – the white wines of Condrieu and the red wines of Côte-Rôtie and Hermitage.”

This grape is grown in milder climates and produces a medium-to full-bodied wine. It is also known as Shiraz, but should not be confused with Petit Sirah, which was developed by crossing Syrah with Peloursin.