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Tasting notes
The 1976 L’Hermitage from Domaine J-L Chave comes from an era when conversely, the estate was not quite firing on all cylinders, as it did in decades before and after. It has a distinct chlorine-tinged bouquet, quite intense and becoming more floral, a touch of singed leather emerging with time. The palate has adequate, quite sweet plummy fruit, a bit soft around the edges with a melted quality on the finish. I suspect bottles should be consumed in the near future. Drink soon.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Neal Martin
More reviews and scores
For whatever reason, I have found this wine excessively lean, unforthcoming, and terribly tannic and dry on the palate. Perhaps I have been unlucky, but I fear this wine is losing what little fruit it had. Last tasted 7/84.
About the producer
The Chaves have been growing grapes in the Northern Rhône since 1481. Jean-Louis Chave is the 16th generation to head up the family domaine, having taken over from his father in 1992.