2022, Domaine Jean-Louis Chave, HERMITAGE, Blanc

Bottled in September 2024, just two months before my visit, the 2022 L'Hermitage Blanc is brilliant. Prominent honeysuckle, lemon zest, ripe peach, cedar, quince and a hint of jasmine burst from the glass. The full-bodied 2022 seamlessly combines elevated flavour concentration with vibrant freshness on the palate, delivering a precise, impressive L'Hermitage Blanc. The refined finish is remarkably long and focused, enhanced by a nuanced phenolic grip. 97 Nicolas Greinacher, Vinous (2024).

The plots of Péléat and Rocoules were a little richer than a typical year, with relatively low acidity, while Ermite had a honeysuckle florality and a little more flesh than usual. Rich, dense and mighty, it is the opposite in style to the fine, fresh 2021. Picking started on 23 August in 2022. A tasting of the different plots was instructive, but the wines had been moved from barrel to tank the day before, so the score is a guide only. 96 Matt Walls, Decanter (2023).

Drinking Window: 2025 - 2042