Hermitage Rouge, J-L Chave 1997

Unusual in its fruit-forward, user-friendly style. The colour is a dense ruby/purple. The gorgeous, evolved bouquet of cassis, minerals, herbs, underbrush, and licorice is intense. Creamy-textured, full-bodied, and opulent, this low acid, gloriously ripe, layered 1997 can be drunk now, but promises to be even better with another 5-6 years of cellaring; it will last for 20-25 years.

Readers impatient with the bacard style of Chave's Hermitage will enjoy the 1997 Hermitage. Atypical in its friendliness and forward appeal, this dense purple-coloured wine offers a gorgeous nose of blackberry fruit intertwined with cassis, minerals, dried herbs, and sweet foresty scents. Rich, medium to full-bodied, with beautifully integrated acidity and tannin, this vintage may behave much like the 1991. The fruit is gloriously ripe and rich, but the wine is more accessible than most vintages of Chave Hermitage. Anticipated maturity: 2003-2025. 92pts.