2019 Hermitage
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Tasting notes
Glass-staining ruby. Heady, mineral- and spice-accented dark berry, cherry-cola and potpourri aromas show outstanding clarity and pick up a smoky nuance with air. Juicy and penetrating on the palate, offering vibrant, spice-laced bitter cherry, blueberry and fruitcake flavors that are braced by a core of juicy acidity. Finishes sweet, lively and extremely long, with an echo of candied violet and velvety tannins that make a late appearance.
Critic scores
Average Score
Alistair Cooper MW, jancisrobinson.com
Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider
More reviews and scores
I continue to rave about the wines of Yann Chave, and readers should snatch up these wines before the market catches up to the quality. Dense purple, with a great nose of chocolaty blackberries, bloody meat, iron, scorched earth, and pepper, the beautiful 2019 Hermitage hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a dense, layered mid-palate, and enough tannins to warrant at least 5-7 years of bottle age. It pushes on the ripeness scale and is one monster of a Hermitage that's going to have 20-30 years of longevity.
Hints of pastry crust and baked plums mark the nose of Yann Chave's 2019 Hermitage, supported by cedar and wood spice. Mainly from Les Beaumes, it matured in new demi-muids. Full-bodied and intense, with plenty of weight and richness, it's dense and packed with flavor, finishing long and velvety. While relatively approachable, expect it to close up in short order and then drink well again in 5-8 years.