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Domaine Yann Chave Le Rouvre Crozes-Hermitage 2020
Crozes-Hermitage AOC
It’s surprising that a winemaker as consistently brilliant as Chave could have managed to fly under the radar for so long. But now word is out. This top vintage 2020 is rich, concentrated with layers of bramble fruit and savoury, herbal complexity.
Beyond the Label
Tasting notes
Immensely concentrated and very fine with lavish fruit complexity
Aroma
Haunting notes of cracked pepper, olive tapenade and black cherries
Allergy information
Contains sulphites
Yann Chave is hot property. His wines are listed by all top Michelin-starred French chefs, Bocuse, Ducasse and Troisgros among them. His Le Rouvre is always impressive, as good as many a Hermitage, and here from a vintage with wines that "provide huge amounts of pleasure, straight out of the gate" (Decanter). It has a haunting nose of cracked pepper and olive tapenade with swathes of black cherry and wild herbs. Remarkably smooth and balanced, so it'll not only drink beautifully in youth but will age gracefully, too. All the Syrah grapes are from magnificent near-60-year-old vines grown near the Pont de l’Isère. Only free-run juice goes into this exclusive cuvée, which is matured in large oak barrels. Superb with lamb or a herby casserole.
93 points
