If you want to talk about a grand seigneur of the Rhône, the name Jean-Louis Chave is essential to the conversation. Founded in 1481, wines are produced here in an uninterrupted succession of generations, above all in the famous Hermitage appellation, and the family is thus one of the oldest wine-growing families in Europe.
Despite this great history as one of the most influential dynasties of winemakers and despite the highest marks drawn in modern times, and consistently since wine criticism began, the current protagonists, father Gerard Chave and son Jean-Louis, have remained extremely modest representatives of their guild.
The small winery is difficult to find, otherwise pilgrimages would probably take place, because the wines of the Domaine are sought-after rarities with absolute cult status.
Jean-Louis Chave has remained a house where tradition still counts for something. Of course, the current generation has looked around the world and studied modern cellar techniques, only to find that they offer no solutions for their own wines. Accordingly, wine is produced here according to the fathers' custom.
This includes low yields, an excellent understanding of the terroir and the vine, fermentation exclusively with natural yeasts and bottling without filtration to leave the wines their greatest possible naturalness. Therefore, the use of new wood is also deliberately avoided.
This art of winemaking, this fundamental knowledge and understanding of traditional methods has made the domain of just 24 hectares one of the best wine producers in the world.
