Sixteen generations on the hill of Hermitage. The Chave family has been making wine here since 1481, and the name has become shorthand for the appellation itself. This 2023 Syrah is an act of assembly: Bessards, Beaumes, L'Hermite, Péléat, Méal, Greffieux, Diognières, each parcel handing over its share of structure, aromatics, richness, or finesse. The whole is unmistakably greater than the sum of its parts. That's the art here, and it's 545 years in the making.
Tasting Notes
Defined by the art of blending, bringing together fruit from several historic parcels across the hill—including Bessards, Beaumes, L’Hermite, Péléat, Méal, Greffieux, and Diognières—each contributing structure, aromatics, richness, or finesse to create a wine greater than the sum of its parts. Bessards, a steep granite slope, consistently forms the backbone of the blend, while other sites add depth, texture, and balance. To preserve the character of each terroir, parcels are vinified separately, with fermentations in stainless steel, wooden vats, and tonneaux, gentle extraction, and largely destemmed fruit. After about 18 months of élevage, the components are blended and aged further in mostly neutral oak for a total of roughly 30 months, before bottling without filtration. The result is a wine of remarkable complexity, structure, and longevity, expressing the full diversity of Hermitage.
