Jean-Louis Chave

The Chave family has been producing wines in the northern Rhône Valley since 1481, establishing themselves as one of the region’s most respected wine producers. They initially started as négociants, purchasing and selecting the finest grapes from trusted growers in the Saint Joseph appellation. However, the devastating arrival of phyloxera in the second half of the 19th century, while catastrophic for many, presented an unexpected opportunity for the family to secure some of their most important holdings in Hermitage. With numerous vineyards destroyed and land prices plummeting, the Chave family made the strategic decision to make their official move to Hermitage, a decision that would prove transformative for generations to come.

It was in the 1970s that the name gained its iconic halo in the wine world, elevating the family’s reputation to unprecedented heights. Gérard Chave, representing the 15th generation at the helm of the estate, took over from his father and revolutionized their approach by developing a new style of winemaking: precise, refined and more terroir-driven. Under his stewardship, Gérard also significantly increased the family’s holdings on the Hermitage Hill to a total of 14 hectares, making them the appellation’s fourth largest estate and solidifying their position as one of the region’s most influential producers.

In 1992 Gérard’s son Jean-Paul joined his father at the Domaine after completing his comprehensive oenological studies at UC Davis, in California, bringing with him fresh perspectives and innovative ideas.

He took his father’s mission a step further, by strategically expanding and diversifying the family’s holdings while maintaining their commitment to traditional winemaking methods. One of his most important and forward-thinking decisions was to refocus on the Saint Joseph appellation, namely by purchasing the prestigious Clos de l’Arbalestrier and the iconic walled vineyard of Clos Florentin, which had maintained its pristine condition as no chemical fertilisers had ever been used on its soils. In a move to make their wines more accessible to a broader audience, he also established a négociant label, JL Chave Selection, that develops approachable wines, thoughtfully designed for early and easy-drinking without compromising on the family’s high standards of quality.

The character and elegance of Jean-Luis’ wines rest upon three foundational pillars that have been meticulously refined over generations. First is the exceptional purity of fruit, derived from their prestigious organically-farmed vineyards where each vine is tended with unwavering dedication. The second pillar is their distinctive hands-off winemaking approach, where each carefully selected plot is fermented independently in a thoughtful combination of wooden and cement vessels, allowing the true expression of each terroir to shine through. The third pillar is their unparalleled blending expertise, a profound knowledge cultivated and passed down through five centuries of winemaking mastery.

In crafting each vintage, different portions from each lieu-dit are meticulously evaluated and combined with remarkable precision to create their iconic Hermitage wines, both in red and white expressions, as well as their distinguished Saint Joseph flagship wines. Every bottle leaves their cellar unfiltered, preserving the full spectrum of aromatic complexity and depth that has become Chave’s unmistakable trademark. Their Hermitage whites, in particular, have earned legendary status for their remarkable longevity, consistently outperforming other producers in their aging potential.

Three words consistently emerge when connoisseurs describe Jean-Louis Chave’s wines: complexity, depth, and elegance. However, to truly comprehend the extraordinary potential of these appellations and the masterful execution of their craft, one must experience these exceptional wines firsthand.