I suspect that the 2015 will slot in among 1990, 2003, 20 as one of the greatest wines from the estate, and readers owe it to themselves to have at least a few bottles in the cellar.

Both GГ©rard and Jean-Louis compared this vintage to a mix of 20, and when I asked if there were any similarities to 1990, both commented that the tannins in 2015 were more ripe and supple. Looking at the vintages reviewed here, the 2015s were all tasted from barrel and are spectacular wines. This iconic estate continues to produce reference point wines from Hermitage and more and more St Joseph, where Jean-Louis has spent an incredible amount of time and effort over the past decade or more. One of my favorite visits during my trip through the Northern RhГґne is with Jean-Louis Chave and Family. Ripe, polished and sexy, with medium-bodied richness, it has perfumed notes of dark fruits, graphite, crushed flowers and spice in an ethereally textured, seamless package.

I was able to drink a bottle of this over lunch and itвЂ™s one of those bottles thatвЂ™s always the first to be emptied. ItвЂ™s not going to be the longest-lived St Joseph out there, but itвЂ™s absolutely loaded with character. The 2014 St Joseph Domaine is a wine readers should buy by the case.

Chave nero 2014