WTN: Proud to be a chavenist

1990 Hermitage Rouge, Jean-Louis Chave

Intense but translucent brick-red color. Classic Northern Rhone syrah aromas of red fruits, smoke, and roast meat jump out of the glass to greet you. I would be content just to inhale the aromas all day. The flavors follow what the aromas promised. Complex, classic syrah, tannins fully resolved, acidity completely in balance. This wine has all of the graceful power that has made Hermitage famous. The finish is long and delicious and tempts one to take another sip. I think this wine is at or near its peak right now, but there is no hurry to drink it up. This rivals the 1985 J-L Chave in quality. Triple Curly with an extra Woo! Woo! Woo!

-Paul W.

[David M. Bueker]

Nice stuff. Wish I had jumped on that bandwagon when I started buying wine.

Unfortunately J-L Chave's wines have stratospheric prices these days. I haven't bought any since the turn of the century.

-Paul W.

[Jenise]

Similar. I bought 99's in Houston when at one of the area's best wine stores but which had the unfortunate reputation for mispricing wine received in six-packs--they divided by 12. Great bargains over the years!

I also bought two magnums, don't recall the vintage, from Chambers St when everyone was rallying to give them sales post 9/11. They were only $125 each. Should have bought every one they had.

I love the Chave Hermitage (I have several vintages in case lots still, from the 90s) And the Offerus St Joseph ain't too shabby either.