2007 St Joseph Offerus
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Tasting notes
The following wines are all from Jean-Louis Chave’s negociant operations. They have added a Crozes-Hermitage Silene to the portfolio, but their main offering is the St.-Joseph Offerus. The seductive, endearing 2007 St.-Joseph Offerus exhibits meaty, black cherry and black currant fruit notes intermixed with hints of damp earth, forest floor and underbrush. It is a complex, powerful, elegant, mature, sexy St.-Joseph to enjoy over the next 5-6 years. Tasting through the different Hermitage vineyards (including Peleat, Les Beaumes, Meal, l’Ermite and Les Bessards), the lowest score any of these lots received was 94-96 (Les Beaumes). The other parcels all merited 97-100 points. The most dominant component part of Chave’s red Hermitage comes from Les Bessards, which many consider to be the greatest vineyard on Hermitage Hill. The next largest is Meal, a vineyard with a more southerly exposure. While Chave has not made their special cuvee, Cuvee Cathelin, since 2003, I suspect one will emerge from the different lots of Les Bessards that I tasted as 2009 is certainly a year where enough wine can be culled out for the Cathelin without sacrificing the monumental quality of the regular Hermitage. This looks to be one of the wines of the vintage, which is not surprising given the fact that the Chave family has more experience than just about anybody in the winemaking world (the domaine was founded in 1481 - nearly a decade before Christopher Columbus discovered America!). Importer: David Shiverick, Los Angeles, CA; tel (213) 483-5900
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Josh Raynolds
More reviews and scores
Inky ruby. Powerful aromas of blackcurrant, dark cherry and olive, with a smoky undertone of dark chocolate and violet. Weighty dark berry and violet pastille flavors coat the palate, with velvety tannins providing shape on the back. Rich but not especially heavy, with very good finishing cling to the flavors of candied flowers and cracked pepper. This could only be syrah. (Willette Wines, New York NY
Component #1, from Saint-Jean-de-Muzols: Vibrant aromas of red berries, cherry and Asian spices. Juicy raspberry and kirsch on the palate, with silky tannins and excellent finishing lift. This fruit was not destemmed. Component #2, from Tournon: Energetic red and dark berry scents, with a licorice topnote. Brisk and focused, with spicy raspberry and anise flavors and good tannic spine. This was also vinified with all of the stems. Component #3, from Mauves: Richer than the preceding cuvees Deep dark berry and plum aromas are complemented by licorice and dark chocolate. Plenty of structure and grip. Should make a serious, ageworthy wine, with energetic spiciness and vivid red and dark berry fruit.
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.