Vanessa

9.3

It’s always a resounding ‘YES’ for JL Chave!!

That includes this luscious and concentrated Syrah from Saint-Joseph AOC in the Northern Rhône of France.

Domaine Jean-Louis Chave is a benchmark and icon of the Rhône Valley – a family-run operation since 1481 – with an entire range of deliciousness through the Domaine Jean-Louis Chave and JL Chave Selection portfolios.

This wine is deep ruby, trending on purple. It has pronounced aromas and flavors of boysenberry, blueberry, black cherry, cassis, pomegranate, also violet, bacon, sanguine, saddle leather, pipe tobacco, clove, cigar, damp earth, and black peppercorn. Alcohol is high (14.5% ABV) with medium (+) fine-grained and well-integrated tannins, medium (+) acidity, a medium (+) body, and a long, elegant finish.

It has a rustic and savory character with robust dark fruit notes; it’s layered, complex, structured, and age-worthy, benefitting from decanting. Still, it’s tasting wonderfully now.

Cheers to JL Chave and treasures of the Rhône!! — 12 days ago

with Deked1

Jeffrey Woo

9.2

Dark ruby hue with slight brickish tinge. Big bouquet of dark fruit (including blackberry, cassis, and plum). Plus body, plus tannins, plus acid. Elegant with a medium-length finish. Exemplary Right Bank Bordeaux. 90% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc. — 3 days ago

Alvaro Bustillos

9.4

Juan cortina jorge santos cna — 4 days ago

GaryWEdwards

9.6

Wow! This is still a broad shouldered , yet elegant, wine with smoke and dark berry led. Still has a long life left. — 7 days ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

1996 vintage. Solid fill. Excellent cork. Decanted and tasted over the course of 1.5 hours. Tossing big sed. Medium body. Huge sandalwood on the initial nose that turned into charcoal after 20-25 minutes. Cocoa/milk chocolate, dark plum, coffee grounds and a "chunkiness" that worked well collectively for approximately 45 mins but then lost cohesion, fragmented and made the wine slightly less interesting. Thought the wine could hold up for another 15 years at a 9.4 level during the first half but the second half revealed a lack of depth on the bench. Would like to taste again and give it 2 hours to make a long(er)-term case for itself. 3.28.24. — 18 days ago

Delectable Wine

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9.2

The 2021 Saint-Joseph used roughly 50% whole-clusters during fermentation. In comparison, 2022 saw 85% inclusion, while in 2017, no destemming was applied. Coming in at 12.5% alcohol, the deep purple-hued 2021 unfurls with pretty red fruits paired with leafy undertones and cedar. Orange blossom and rose petal add welcome floral lift. Light to medium in body, this is a delicate Gonon, neatly framed by velvety tannins and bright acidity. It should drink well right out of the gate. Tasted twice with consistent notes. (Nicolas Greinacher, Vinous, March 2024)
— 19 days ago

Gor

9.5

Saddle leather, cedar, spice, lingonberry, plum, hint of licorice. Full bodied and structured with a long finish. Great stuff. — 9 days ago

Jeffrey Woo

9.2

Dark ruby hue. Aromas of blackberry, blueberry, cassis, leather, plum. Plus body, full tannins, plus acid. Balanced, bold, and refined, with a long finish. Definitely worth pairing with hearty food. 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot. — 3 days ago

Andrew McIntyre

9.5

Massive monster of a wine that will obviously polarise. The type of wine that you drink while being fed grapes and fanned with a giant palm leaf. Opulent and luxurious with blackberry, brambles and tar. Its going to be too much for a lot of people but if you like your wines full of flavour then this is for you! — 15 days ago

Jeffrey Woo

9.2

Medium ruby hue. Aromas of bell pepper, cassis, cherry, graphite, iron, leather, licorice, tar, violet. Full bodied, with full tannins and plus acidity. Structured and elegant. 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc. — 9 days ago