Profundity, Complicated
2011 & 2013 Chave Hermitage Blanc
Chave's Hermitage is one of the great wines of the world.
His red Hermitage assumes a looming presence, but his white is simply profound. Today, we pay homage to Chave's extraordinary Hermitage Blanc.
As Jean-Louis Chave makes clear in a recent I'll Drink To That! interview, the initial renown for Hermitage was built on the white. Accordingly, almost all of the really old wines in Chave's cellar are white.
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I mention this to situate just how epic, how important Chave's white is. It's a stand-alone wine. Its greatness, however, is complicated. It absolutely dominates the palate with indescribable layers, spellbinding nobility and luxurious, dizzying, kaleidoscopic, mysterious depth.
An old bottle of Chave Blanc is one of my favorite wines in existence.
Today, I'm happy to offer two vintages of Chave's Blanc, 2011 and 2013, which can be viewed as bookends. The 2011 is bigger, richer and dramatizes the sheer grandeur of Chave Blanc. The 2013 is the higher acid and punchier of the two. I wanted to highlight the range that this wine is capable of.
Like Chave's Hermitage Rouge, the Blanc boasts Chave's brilliant blending skills. What results is an insane flavor spectrum of nectarine, peach, citrus oils, quince, marzipan, honey and flowers balanced by great purity, elegance, minerality and freshness. It's head-spinning.
For me, Chave's Blanc demands a place in every collector's cellar. It's an incredible wine and a distance runner. Happy to offer.
To order, email offers@crushwineco.com or call the store at (212) 980-9463.
Ian McFadden
Director, Fine & Rare Wine
Crush Wine & Spirits
2011 & 2013 Chave Hermitage Blanc