Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage 2023 is the estate’s flagship red from the Northern Rhône’s Hermitage AOC, made from 100% Syrah grown on the famed Hermitage hill. The Chave family has farmed here since 1481, and the domaine’s approach remains rooted in blending fruit from multiple hillside lieux-dits to build complexity and balance rather than emphasizing a single site.

Early critical response has been excellent. Jeb Dunnuck calls it “another beautiful Hermitage,” highlighting how the blend comes together from key components: Péléat for finesse, Beaume for “complexity and spice,” L’Ermite for “minerality and rose petal nuances,” and Bessards for the “granitic, graphite, structured core that defines this cuvée” (JebDunnuck.com). He adds, “I love the overall purity, elegance, and finesse of the 2023,” describing it as a “slight throwback to ripe, yet very classic, mineral-driven examples,” and suggests it will offer “some early enjoyment” while still having “ample longevity.” Dunnuck’s 96–98 point barrel range is a standout endorsement.

Vinous also emphasizes the aromatic profile at this stage, calling it “hauntingly floral,” with “rose petal, crushed violet, sour cherry, red plum, cedar and a delicate hint of orange blossom” (Nicolas Greinacher, Vinous). Greinacher notes that Les Beaumes “stand[s] out this year for its lively energy and laser-like precision,” while Les Bessards and L’Ermite deliver “outstanding purity.” He flags that it “may not match the concentration or sheer impact of the 2022,” but expects evolution to be revealing.

Decanter, at 97 points—another excellent review—frames 2023 as “particularly approachable and supple,” with “deliciously ripe Méal fruit” and “very elegant” shape, albeit “fairly low in tannin compared to a typical year” (Decanter). Decanter expects it to “drink well young,” with a more serious window “starting at around 2036,” and sees it as “undoubtedly a big step up from the 2021.”