DOMAINE JEAN-LOUIS CHAVE

Widely recognised as one of the finest producers of Hermitage, the Chave family have been tending their vines within the appellation since 1481. All the time in the world, then, to get it right, and they have done just that, with an enviable reputation for making good wines in difficult years and outstanding wines in the better ones.

While based in a small village not far from Cornas, the heart of their operation lies across the river, where they own vines in nine of the eighteen vineyards that cover the Hermitage hill. The Chaves believe the rich variety of terroir to be found there is critical when it comes to the finesse, structure and complexity they require for their blends.

After centuries of nurture, this family have an intimate understanding of their surroundings. Those plots that do not meet their elevated standards simply aren’t used. One such plot is in Les Vercandières, a thin strip at the base of the highly significant Les Bessards vineyard, which they use as a vegetable patch. Touché!