Earthy, with herb and spice flavors, but it also has a core of meaty currant and raspberry flavors. A complex wine that manages to balance the fruit flavors with the earthy ones. Not too tannic to drink tonight, but will be better with some age. Best from 1993 through 1995.

Medium red, transparent color with slight bricking at the edges. The 1987 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage shows a perfumed, sweet nose of cherry, forest floor, earth and mushroom notes. The palate is medium bodied and has a silky, smooth texture, completely integrated tannins and a medium length finish. This was drank over a 3 hour period and not decanted with the last glass being the best. - Jeb Dunnuck

The 1987 red Hermitage is probably the finest wine of the appellation. Chave's 1987 is a beautiful bottle of wine. I thought so much of it, I bought several magnums. It is soft and, as Chave's wines go, extremely elegant and feminine, but wonderfully round, rich, concentrated, and oh, so seductive. While it will become more complex with bottle age, by Chave's standards, it will not be long-lived. Anticipated maturity: now-2008. Last tasted 11/95. - Robert Parker