As good as Hermitage can get, the 2015 Hermitage from Jean-Louis Chave reminds me of a hypothetical mix of the 2010 and 1990 with its incredible purity, finesse, and elegant paired with awesome depth and structure. This heavenly wine exhibits a deep purple color as well as a powerful bouquet of crème de cassis, blackberries, dried violets, graphite, and crushed rocks, with a liquid mineral component that’s just about impossible to find outside of the Bessards lieu-dit in Hermitage. Full-bodied and massively concentrated on the palate, yet with laser-like precision and clarity, it needs a solid decade of cellaring and will keep for 40+ years or more. It’s not as sexy or overt as the Cuvee Cathelin, but is every bit as good.

Mind-blowing ever sense of the word! This just grabbed my attention from the first, sniff and kept it there after the initial sip. The levels of concentration here are off the hook. The tannins are polished, silky and feel great on the palate. The fruit offers purity, symmetry and sweetness, along with spice, iron, crushed rock, pepper and herbal accents. The finish doesn't let go for at least 60 seconds. You should wait at least 15 years, or more, but this worth the wait, and the cost, f you find and afford it. Read more at:https://www.thewinecellarinsider.com/wine-tasting-note/?vintage=2015&wine=Domaine%20Jean-Louis%20Chave%20Hermitage

This delivers a broad swath of gently mulled blackberry, plum and boysenberry fruit flavors, inlaid deeply and seamlessly with anise, roasted apple wood, graphite and black tea notes. A mouthwatering mineral edge harnesses everything, adding refinement and cut. The extremely long finish has a wonderful sense of fine detail. Best from 2020 through 2040. 2,500 cases made. — JM

The 2015 Hermitage is in bottle and it's a profound, long-lived wine, although the 2017 may perhaps surpass it in terms of pure pleasure. The 2015 is a bit meaty and cedary up front, backed by a mix of berry fruit and spice variations. But what stands out is the wine's immaculate structure and balance. It's firm and tannic without being hard or unyielding, finishing with fold after fold of velvety richness. While the impatient can certainly derive some pleasure from it even now, I'd opt for cellaring it a decade or more. -JC