2010 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Saint-Joseph
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Tasting notes
Inky purple. Musky blackberry and cherry aromas, with slow-building Indian spice and floral nuances. Lively, sharply defined dark berry flavors are refreshingly bitter and show superb depth. Gains strength and a powerful cola quality on the clinging, mineral-driven finish, which is broad, deep and sharply focused.
Critic scores
Robert Parker
Robert Parker
More reviews and scores
The stunning 2010 St.-Joseph ranks alongside the finest wines of the appellation, including Guigal’s l’Hospice and Chapoutier’s Les Granits. It boasts a dense purple color along with scents of kirsch, blackberries, crushed rocks, spring flowers and licorice. It needs 2-3 years of bottle age and should drink well for 15+ years thereafter. I have had the privilege of tasting at this brilliant family-owned estate for over 30 years. During that time, I have seen first-hand the glory of a true evolution from father Gerard Chave to his son, Jean-Louis, and of course, the Chave family has been doing this since 1472. It is one of those small but world-class wine enterprises that is truly inspiring. Tasting through the different vineyards before their newest red and white Hermitages are blended is an education in the different terroirs of that famous dome of largely decomposed granite mixed with gravel and clay. Jean-Louis Chave characterized the 2011 vintage as challenging, where one had to perform draconian crop-thinning and selections in the winery. All the St.-Joseph vineyards are located on steep hillsides near the Chaves’ home village of Mauves, to as far north as St.-Jean de Muzols and Ste.-Epine as well as those once known as Clos Florentin. Importer: Langdon-Shiverick, Los Angeles, CA; tel. (213) 483-5900
Quite subtle and dry with great integrity and structure. Ripeness in the middle. Tannins on the finish. (JR)
Tasted in three components: #1, from Clos Florentin, in Mauves: Intensely perfumed and deep in dark berry character. Juicy and precise, with strong finishing minerality and a persistent violet note. #2, from Mauves vineyards: More brooding than the Clos Florentin sample, offering deep black and blue fruit qualities and suggestions of licorice and espresso. Bright mineral and spice notes add finishing lift and bite and linger with impressive tenacity. #3, from Bachasson: Heady aromas of potpourri, dark berry preserves and woodsmoke. Juicy, focused and pure, with excellent finishing clarity and persistent minerality. The final wine should be a bright, mineral-dominated example of Saint Joseph, with good upfront appeal but the balance to age.
About the producer
The Chaves have been growing grapes in the Northern Rhône since 1481. Jean-Louis Chave is the 16th generation to head up the family domaine, having taken over from his father in 1992.