The 2022 Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage is a Syrah from France's famed Northern Rhone region, specifically the Hermitage appellation. This vintage is a standout, receiving high praise from multiple reviewers for its complexity, structure, and potential for aging.
Decanter awarded the wine an impressive score of 98, highlighting its powerful yet fragrant nature. The publication noted that the blend shows how different soil types reacted to the drought conditions of the year. The granite-based parcels like Ermite and Les Bessards ended up with 13% alcohol, while the clay-based terroirs like Le Méal and Les Beaumes reached 15%. Decanter mentions that the wine stylistically aligns with other recent dry and hot vintages, yet is more balanced than the extreme 2003 vintage.
Jeb Dunnuck also praised the wine, giving it a potential score of 97. He emphasized the wine's focused and firm character, describing it as having remarkable purity and an incredible sense of minerality. Dunnuck suggested that the 2022 Hermitage is reminiscent of the 1998 vintage, noting a touch more sun-kissed fruit, and advised that it will benefit from a decade of aging.
Vinous echoed high praise with a near-perfect score of 98, appreciating the wine's finesse, complexity, and freshness. Nicolas Greinacher from Vinous was particularly impressed with the striking inner energy and floral lift of the Péléat, anticipating an exciting final blend.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate awarded it a 95, describing it as broad, deep, and full-bodied, with a complex aroma profile of smoke, licorice, and dark wild berries. Despite the sunny, dry conditions, the wine does not exhibit an overly warm character, making it a unique expression, per the review.
Overall, the 2022 Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage is a complex, nuanced wine that promises to age gracefully, rewarding those who wait.