Reviews & Scores
A late vintage that’s compared to 2013 by Jean-Louis, yet that carried more crop, the 1996 Hermitage is a juicy, medium-bodied effort that’s ready to go. Giving up classic herbed game, bacon fat and sweet fruit, it should continue to evolve gracefully, but there’s no reason to hold off here. (JD) - WA
WA91August 2014
This was mouthwatering from the start, with white pepper, tobacco, iron and dried currant notes rippling along, showing still-vivacious acidity underneath and a long, mesquite- and cedar-filled finish that has excellent drive. This is a high-acid vintage and stands a bit apart from the flight stylistically. (JM) - WS
WS93December 2012
The ’96 Chave has decidedly moved into its secondary phase of development, and now is offering up a very complex bouquet. Scents of black raspberries, cassis, grilled meats, coffee, a bit of shoe polish, woodsmoke, cracked black pepper, hot stones and forest floor waft from the glass. On the palate the wine is full-bodied, well-balanced and very deep at the core, with round tannins, outstanding complexity, and a very long, powerful finish. It is a terrific Chave Hermitage from the great run that the Chaves had between 1988 and 1997. This was served immediately after the ’96 Verset Cornas, and the differences were quite striking, as while the Chave is significantly more complex and powerful than the Verset, it is also lower in acidity, and hence its fruit tones are a bit less vibrant and the wine does not have the same bounce on the palate. Still, unless the 1998 has rallied significantly since I tasted it early on I like the ’96 better than the handful of bottles of the 1998, as there is significantly more mid-palate depth and length to be found in the 1996. This is just beginning to drink well, and may even improve as it fully blossoms. - JG
JG92March 2006
Saturated, deep ruby-red. Aromatic, pure aromas of cassis, mocha, iris and Cuban tobacco. Supple and fruity, with the Burgundian floral aspect shown by so many Northern Rhône wines from this vintage. Very fresh and juicy; pure and sharply delineated. Not at all a southern style of syrah. A wine with excellent thrust but not a particularly powerful style of Hermitage. Very long, violety aftertaste. (ST) - VM
VM92+