2006 Hermitage, Domaine Jean-Louis Chave
Dry, Red, Still
France
Leave 2014 – 2035 
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Tasting Note
Attractive on the nose, with notes of cassis, raspberry and a subtle floral note. The palate is rich and concentrated, yet elegant, with a freshening acidity and structural tannins. Seamless and flowing, with a hint of minerality on the finish. Outstanding Hermitage.
Region Details
A confident wind is blowing through the Rhône valley; Syrah, Grenache and Viognier are the grapes of the moment, and the Mediterranean diet has been adopted around the world as the mark of a good life, further energising sales of Rhône wines. From Côte-Rôtie through to the Châteauneuf-du-Pape, there is a sense of optimism and forward motion.
While united by the presence of the river, the two halves of the region couldn’t be more different. The northern Rhône consists of a narrow band of vineyards that follow the course of the river as it heads south. The vineyards are dramatically steep in parts, and the climate is continental, similar to that of the southern extremes of Burgundy. In terms of the wines produced, Syrah reigns supreme as the only red varietal, while white wines invariably consist of a proportion of both Marsanne and Roussanne.
Other than the river, the south shares very little with the north. Flatter and much more Mediterranean in climate, it is Grenache that features most heavily for red wine production, supported mainly by Syrah and Mourvèdre. White wine production is equally as varied; Grenache Blanc, Bourbelenc, Clairette, Viognier, Marsanne and Roussanne are all found here. With such a wide base of varieties, styles and wines can and do vary dramatically.
Vintage Notes
2006 - Rhône
When given the opportunity to taste the young 2006 châteauneuf-du-papes, it became clear that this vintage would represent another success for this region, albeit the wines seem far more accessible at this stage than their 2005 counterparts. Across the vast expanse of vineyard that is
Châteauneuf-du-Pape, growers seemed quietly content with what they had achieved and rightly so – this is a remarkably appealing, harmonious vintage. The vintage is a fascinating one from a meteorological perspective; after a cold winter, spring was relatively late, rainy yet crucially free from frost. The move in to summer could hardly have delivered a greater contrast; remarkably hot to the extent that growers wondered if a replica of the dramatic and relentless temperatures of 2003 was in the offing. Fortunately the vines did not undergo anything like the water-stress of that vintage, on account of a timely rainstorm in mid July and welcome showers as we entered August. Indeed, when August arrived temperatures calmed, the days were cool serving to delay maturity and noticeably cooler night-time temperatures aided aroma retention in the berries. A fine September allowed the ripening period to continue unfettered, delivering a healthy ripe crop. As a consequence the wines are characterised by bright, vivid fruit and comparatively gentle acidity, which means that they flatter even when tasted from barrel. What sets them apart is the aromatic freshness that the month of August served to create. The balance that is struck is remarkable, and that kind of harmony will see the best of the vintage evolve in the bottle for the best part of ten to 15 years. At Château de Beaucastel, they allude to the 1988 vintage, which continues to drink well even today, after almost 20 years. There is an outside chance that the vintage may pass under the radar for some on account of its lightness of touch, which would prove a shame as the enjoyment will be there to be had at every stage of development; a rewarding contrast to the compact, tightly-knit and intensely structured 2005s.
Grape Variety
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