2018 Jean-Louis Chave Selection Mon Coeur Cotes du Rhone

Jean-Louis Chave is a 37.5-acre estate in Hermitage, in the Rhone Valley, and it is universally admired as one of the world’s great wine estates. Robert M. Parker Jr., a self-proclaimed fan, has called Jean-Louis and Gerard Chave, the son and father who run the estate, some “of this planet’s greatest winemakers.” Winemakers for six centuries, the Chave family produces red and white Hermitages, and a special Hermitage Cuvee Cathelin. The only grapes grown are Syrah for the reds and Roussanne and Marsanne for the white Hermitage. There are about 30,000 bottles of red Hermitage produced annually, 15,000 bottles of white, and 2,500 bottles of Cuvee Cathelin, which is only produced in vintages when the Chaves believe the harvest is good enough to be turned into the luxury cuvee.

The Southern Rhône Valley wine region extends from Orange in the north through the communes Lirac and Tavel in the southwest. The French call the region Côtes du Rhône Méridionales and it includes some of the best known appellations in France, such as Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Gigondas. The climate and landscape of the Southern Rhone differ significantly from the Northern Rhone. There are hot, often windy Mediterranean appellations near Nimes and the south, and higher altitude, relatively cool appellations such as Côtes du Ventoux to the east. Understanding the region can be confusing given that there are thirteen appellations and sixteen red and white grapes allowed for wines with appellation status. Syrah is grown here, but it is much less important than in the north. Grenache is the prominent red grape, though most red wines are blends of at least four varietals. Other commonly used red grapes are Mourvèdre, Cinsault and Muscardin. Counoise, Terret Noir, Vaccarèse and Syrah are also permitted. The primary white grapes are Grenache Blanc, Clairette and Bourboulenc, though Viognier, Marsanne and Roussanne are permitted, as are Picpoul and Picardin. Of note is the Côtes du Rhone Villages AOC, which is only in the Southern Rhone. Though Côtes du Rhône AOC wine is made in both the north and south, the Villages appellation has stricter requirements for winemaking and is generally considered higher quality than simple Côtes du Rhône. Robert M. Parker Jr. has written that “There is a vast amount of enjoyment to be discovered in the southern Rhône…for these are some of the most sumptuous and pleasure-giving wines produced in the world.”