For generations of wine collectors, Chave Hermitage has been the “holy grail” of France’s northern Rhône valley. No bottle more faithfully encompases the history and soul of this region as expressed through the Syrah grape. And, for us, Chave is a mandatory crown jewel in any serious wine collection. It is the bottle we extract from the coolest corner of our cellar when two close friends wed, or when we wish to blow a younger colleague’s mind with their first sip of greatness. Since 1481, numerous generations of the Chave family have hand farmed this same hillside in pursuit of one shared goal: a timeless and sacred wine that will outlive its creator and be passed down to the next generation of Chaves. The accumulation of so many centuries of expertise and tireless labor results in a wine which all other Syrahs on Earth are judged. Simply put, Chave Hermitage is the gold standard. We receive a truly minuscule allocation of this prized and incredibly scarce wine each July and 2015 is the ideal vintage with which to begin a lifelong love affair with one of the great wines of the world.

As one drives north through the Rhône Valley toward Burgundy, the hill of Hermitage dominates the horizon. This towering granite hillside looms over the small village of Tain-l'Hermitage and is world renown for producing deep, timeless, and infinitely cellar-worthy Syrah. In this historic appellation, one family estate has been producing elite wines longer than any other: Domaine Jean-Louis Chave. It is an accepted truth that Chave’s Hermitage Rouge is simply one of the most compelling and complex wines on the planet. One of my favorite wine scholars, Jancis Robinson MW, has said that in the entire northern Rhône Valley “no one is more respected than Domaine Jean Louis Chave.” And it’s true: this is a defining wine from all angles, gracing virtually every 3-star Michelin wine list I’ve seen. It is a certified, time-tested classic and a necessary benchmark for any wine collector or enthusiast who wishes to familiarize his/herself with the world’s top tier of red wines. Chave’s signature “L’Hermitage” is a selection of the best lieux-dits on this towering hill with soils that range from granite to sand to clay. In the winery, all parcels are vinified and aged separately. Almost all grapes are destemmed and the site-specific vinifications occur in a combination of wooden and stainless steel vats. The wine is then transferred into 228-liter French barrels for 26 months. Afterwards, the lieux-dits are blended together and the wine is bottled unfined. 

Jean-Louis Chave’s 2015 “L’Hermitage” is a masterclass that immediately makes itself known with a deep opaque purple core leading out to intense magenta hues on the rim. The nose erupts with utterly pure wild blackberry, morello cherries, fresh blueberry, and crème de cassis, followed by a perfumed, intoxicating blend of lavender, rose, sage, and star anise alongside accents of black olive, cured meat, wild mushroom, graphite and crushed earth. The palate is full of dark fruits and hints of baking spice (Chave only uses small proportions of new oak) before classic Syrah notes layer into the mix: peppercorn, leather, olive, and anise. The marriage of energy and power is Chave’s signature and should you exercise patience over curiosity, expect this to last a half century. If you’re eager to try it sooner, decant for 3+ hours (or pull the cork in the morning and leave out the entire day); serve in Bordeaux stems around 60-65 degrees; and be sure to save a glass or two for the days following. Give it time and it will reward you infinitely. Follow the attached braised lamb shank recipe to create a rich dish with intense flavors. It will be a perfect companion to this wine—trust me, not many foods can overpower Jean-Louis Chave’s almighty “L’Hermitage!”