Description
The Northern Rhône Valley is synonymous with Syrah and makes an exceptionally small volume of wine in total, so when you consider the great white wines of the Northern Rhône, you’re looking at a tiny, tiny slice of the wine world. These rarities are not inexpensive; they are hard to find, and almost all of them judge themselves by the unquestioned standard bearer—JL Chave’s L'Hermitage Blanc, regularly regarded as one of the finest white wines in the world, and for good reason. This 2020 L'Hermitage Blanc, which is the usual 80% Marsanne and 20% Roussanne, is from a mix of lieux-dits. Incredibly perfumed with notes of acacia flowers, buttered stone fruits, toasted brioche, honeysuckle, and crushed stone, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a seamless, layered texture, beautiful mid-palate depth, and a great finish.
