Tag Archive for: syrah

Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage

Domaine Jean-Louis Chave

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Tasting of 2013 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage wines or when wine bring silence into a room…

Why say such a thing? First, let’s take a moment and talk about what is the Domaine Jean-Louis Chave.

Among the great wines of the world, within the French wine elite, the Hermitage appellation sitting in Northern Rhone Valley are ranking at the top of this scale with Chave being one of the best ones.

The story

The Domaine Chave is a family story since 1481 and 16 generations have run this house since its beginning, from father to son. They started producing wines in Saint-Joseph and it’s been only about a century since they established themselves on the hills of Hermitage to move away from phylloxera that had damaged their other vineyards.

They now own about 15 hectares of vines spread out on many climates (or areas) of the Hermitage hills and when vinified, they are blended together to produce one amazing wine of each color. There is no single parcel wine nor special cuvees. Just the best of what Hermitage can offer, either in white or red!

They may be hard to find and not the cheapest wines around, but how could one refuse to have them when so kindly offered!

Following a tasting in the offices of their agency, the following wines were poured to help this another busy year to end on the best note possible.

The wines

Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage Blanc 2013

Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage Blanc 2013

Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage Blanc 2013

Medium dense gold color. Aromas of hay, honey with some fruit and oak notes. There is a real depth to that nose, but at the same time, it’s so hard to put words on my impressions. On the palate, the balance between the well-integrated oak that acts like a support to the fruit and spices flavors is so impressive. And I’m not even talking about the everlasting finish! This is what amazed me the most about this wine. Excellent+ (92)

Blend of Marsanne (85%) and Roussanne (15%). Haven’t found any details about the oak ageing. Alcohol level of 14,5%

Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage Rouge 2013

Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage Rouge 2013

Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage Rouge 2013

Dark and can’t see through color. Elegantly and deep nose as I’ve so rarely felt before. Way more aromatic than the white Hermitage was. Aromas of pepper, bacon fat, flowers, red and dark berries, then smoke and old wooden floors are just mind blowing. On the palate the wine is dense, long, of medium amplitude with flavors of smoked meat, flowers and oak. Again, the finish is everlasting. Amazing wine, there is no other way to describe it. Superb+ (94)

Blend of Syrah (85%) and white grapes (15%). Aged in a mix of oak vats and barrels with a proportion is new for 12 to 18 months. Alcohol level of 14,5%

The Domaine Jean-Louis Chave website : hermite.fr/domaine-jean-louis-chave

Their agency here in Québec is Réserve & Sélection / Trialto : trialto.com

 

Thank you!

E Guigal Crozes-Hermitage 2013

E. Guigal Crozes-Hermitage 2013

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E. Guigal Crozes-Hermitage 2013

Dark ruby color. Nose of mixed berries, spices, pepper, olives, raw bacon and flowers. More tight on the palate, air did helped unveil the flavors of baked red fruit, olices, then spices and meat notes. Long and rustic finish, this is a type of wine that goes so well with long roasted meat dishes. Can age too and this wine was at its peek days after bottle opening. Good+ (88)

Made of Syrah from an average 35 years old vines. Aged 4 months in oak casks. Alcohol level of 13%

Available in SAQ stores for 26,65$ (Code SAQ : 00739243)

Guigal’s website: guigal.com

Sample proposed by Les Sélections Fréchette: selectionsfrechette.com

 

Yves Cuilleron Saint-Joseph Les Pierres Sèches 2007

Yves Cuilleron Saint-Joseph Les Pierres Sèches 2007

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Yves Cuilleron Saint-Joseph Les Pierres Sèches 2007 

Garnet color with an orange rim. Nose of meat, pepper, earth, fresh mushrooms and dark berries. Showing some strenght, richness and wide palate, the wine wine offered flavors of berries, red meat, pepper, then the mushrooms and earth came again to end on a long and spicy finish. Really tasty with a nice acidity, especially there on the finish bringing the wine at a greater level. Would have loved to have this wine with a nice piece of meat! Very good+ (90) + (90)

Made of Syrah. Aged 18 months in oak barrels. This bottle was a 375ml. Alcohol level of 13%

This wine on the 2014 vintage was available at the SAQ in 75lml bottles for 29,00$ (Code SAQ : 12008245)

Yves Cuilleron’s website: cuilleron.com

Le Maître de Chai represents Yves Cuilleron in Québec: maitredechai.ca

Yves Cuilleron Saint-Joseph Les Pierres Sèches 2007

François Villard Comme une Évidence Crozes-Hermitage 2014

François Villard Comme une Évidence Crozes-Hermitage 2014

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François Villard Comme une Évidence Crozes-Hermitage 2014

 

Dark purple color. Nose of crushed rock, flowers and black berries in an expressive and fine way. On the palate though, this was serious! Flavors of bacon fat, warm spices, black berries, have a good lenght but ends in a round finish. A beautiful Syrah wine, perfect candidate for cellaring! Very good+ (90)

Made of Syrah. Aged 15 months in 3 to 5 years old oak barrels. Alcohol level of 13%

Available in SAQ stores for 35,25$  (Code SAQ : 12474019)

Domaine François Villard’s website: domainevillard.com

Sample proposed by Trialto: trialto.com

Alain Graillot Crozes-Hermitage 2009

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Alain Graillot Crozes-Hermitage 2009

Dark color with light purple hue. Nose of black berries, olives, warm spices, just a hint of black pepper and meat. Silky tannins are paired with black fruit richness on the palate, then came flavors of bacon, spices, earth, olives, humus and red meat. Medium long finish, the acidity mostly shows on the finish. Good and ready to drink. Very good (89)

Made of  100% Syrah. The grape bunch were partially destemmed. Aged 12 month in oak barrels. Alcohol level of 13%

Alain Graillot’s wines are represented in Québec by Maitre de Chai: maitredechai.ca

Alain Graillot Crozes-Hermitage 2009

Domaine de la Rectorie Collioure Côté Mer Rosé 2014

Domaine de la Rectorie Collioure Côté Mer Rosé 2014

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Domaine de la Rectorie Collioure Côté Mer Rosé 2014

Watermelon juice color. Fine and subtle nose of red fruits with citrus fruit and salty notes. Tastier on the palate, it charms! Far from being a sugary rosé, it’s even better with grilled dishes. Serious, deep with red berry flavors, roses, it’s salty with just a touch of aromatic herbs and spices. Came in late in my summer, otherwise I would’ve had many bottles of this. Very good+ (90) 

Made of grenache, syrah and carignan. Fermented in barrels and aged on lees for 6 months.  Alcohol level of 13,5% 

Almost all gone, but was sold in SAQ stores for 27,40$ (Code SAQ : 11632441)

Domaine de la Rectorie’s website: la-rectorie.com

They are represented in Québec by Les Vins Alain Bélanger: lvab.ca

Domaine de la Rectorie Collioure Côté Mer Rosé 2014

Domaine Jean-Louis Chave L'Hermitage 2012

Domaine Jean-Louis Chave L’Hermitage 2012

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Domaine Jean-Louis Chave L’Hermitage 2012

I’ve heard many times that a Great wine should be drinkable at every step of its ageing process, from its early youth to a fully mature stage. It might be more theory based since it’s pretty rare that one have to chance to open that type of wine more than once, especially when young since one of the goal of having that type of bottle is to lay them down for medium to lo9ng ageing. Well not long ago, I was lucky enough to have to opportunity to taste one of these Grand Vin at an early stage of its life…

Tasted bling with wine geek friends, here is my comments on this week Grand Vin:

Purple color. Nose of black pepper, black berries and bacon. No doubt, this wine is made out of Syrah! Lively and structured on the palate with ripe fruit, the sun does show its presence on the wine. Then comes the spices (anise) on a medium intense structure with a very long finish. This is a beautiful and perfume wine quite approachable now. I guessed a young Cornas wine. Excellent+ (92)

Made of 100% Syrah grapes from Les Bessards, l’Hermite and Le Méal vineyards. Long ageing in oak barrels with 10% new barrels. Alcohol level of 14%

More information on Domaine Jean-Louis Chave: domaine-jean-louis-chave

Réserve et Sélection (Trialto) is the agencey representing Chave in Québec: trialto.com

Vina Mongras Ninquen Colchagua Valley 2013

Vina Mongras Ninquen Colchagua Valley 2013

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Vina Mongras Ninquen Colchagua Valley 2013 

Dark color with purple hue. Nose of spices, earth, oak, bitter chocolate and black berries. Tasty and silky on the palate even if it shows its structure, this wine gives a lot of quality and depth. The flavors are similar to those from the nose, it is approachable from now even if some air wouldn’t not be too much or unnecessary. For those patient folks out there, lay down some bottles for 5 to 15 years and it will be even better. Very good+ (90)

Made of 50% Cabernet-Sauvignon and 50% de Syrah. Aged 21 months in 80% French oak and 20% American oak barrels, half being new the other part of one use. Alcohol level of 14,5%

Available at the SAQ for 29,00$ (Code SAQ : 00928853)

Ninquen’s website, a Vina Mongras brand: montgras.cl/ninquen

Ninquenis represented in Québec by la Société de Vins Fins : sdvf.ca

E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie La Mouline 2006

E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie La Mouline 2006

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E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie La Mouline 2006

The wine is quite dark colored. Fine nose of spices, luxurious but balance oak aromas that lift the wine instead of overpowering it. This will be so much more complex with more cellaring time! Flavors of berries, spices (cinnamon), flowers with a fatty and rich oaky twist but in the same time well integrated and balanced. It’s deep and complex even if in its early years because this wine is really young. Even so, the wine is good and drinks well, like an oak plate carring fruits on it. My first time ever with one of the three “Lalala” from Guigal. Tasted blind without knowing which wine it was. Superb+ (94)

Made of 89% Syrah and 11% Viognier. Aged 40 months in new oak barrels. Alcohol level of 13,5%

Not available at the SAQ for now.

Domaine Guigal’s website: guigal.com

Le Domaine E. Guigal is represented in Quebec by Les Sélections Fréchette: selectionsfrechette.com

Hacienda Araucano Syrah Reserva Lolol Valley 2014

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Hacienda Araucano Syrah Reserva Lolol Valley 2014

Dark violet color. Powerful nose of black berries, spices and smoke. Flavors of dark berries, blue grapes, pepper, incense and vanilla. Has some strength, it’s young and tasty. Pretty good buy! Good+ (88)

Made of Syrah. Aged 8 months in one year old oak barrels. Alcohol level of 13,5%

Available at the SAQ for 10,90$ (Code SAQ : 11975073)

Sample proposed by la Société de vins fins: sdvf.ca

François Lurton / Hacienda Araucano website : francoislurton.com