Jean-Louis Chave @ E&R Wine Shop

I am a lucky guy and have the pleasure of not only buying wines from, but working with the amazing Ed, Richard and Laura at E&R Wine Shop on SW Macadam Avenue here in Portland, OR. I am currently building their website and am having a blast doing so. Last week I received a sort of cryptic email that simply said “Does the name Jean-Louis Chave mean anything to you?”

I replied that yes of course it does and went on to share that Zoe and I had recently shared a positively sublime bottle of his Saint Joseph at a dinner in Walla Walla and had spent many hours researching the history of the Domaine and was totally enamored with the history of their work in Hermitage and Saint Joseph. So Laura replies and informs me that they are going to be hosting a tasting of 20 or so of the wines of Domaine Jean-Louis Chave and that they wanted me to attend as their guest. I was humbled and obviously elated to have the opportunity to taste such a large number of his wines. They told me to bring my camera. I figured it would be to get some shots of the mind blowing lineup of the wines. I was wrong.

Jean-Louis was in attendance and of course I did not know this was going to be the case and walked right by him on my way to the back to greet Laura and Ed.

After I introduced myself to Jean-Louis and successfully avoided a heart attack, we sat down with 22 glasses in front of us. Ed then told both touching and hilarious stories about his many visits to Mauves to visit Gerard, Jean-Louis and Erin. After this Jean-Louis took over and guided us through many of his wines including his Saint Joseph, Hermitage Blanc and Rouge and lastly a truly special 1990 Vin de Paille.

Contemplating Saint Joseph

Jean-Louis walked us through each and every wine and shared his thoughts on the vintage, soil and characteristics of his parcels.

On to the Hermitage Blanc.

"Time is nothing."

Jean-Louis explaining what makes a "granite vintage".

Now for the Hermitage Rouge. We tasted vintages from 2010 to 1979. And the '91 Cuveé Cathelin.

Ed surprised us with a 1990 Vin de Paille, a sweet wine made from late harvest and sun dried Marsanne and Rousanne Hermitage grapes. Jean-Louis tells us the 2000 is still in barrel fermenting.

Stunningly complex and profound. Speechless.

For those curious, the wines Ed and Jean-Louis shared are listed below.

1. 2016 Saint Joseph

2. 2015 Saint Joseph “Clos Florentin”

3. 1990 Saint Joseph

4. 2014 L’Hermitage Blanc

5. 2005 Hermitage Blanc

6. 2004 Hermitage Blanc

7. 2000 Hermitage Blanc

8. 1999 Hermitage Blanc

9. 1995 Hermitage Blanc

10. 1990 Hermitage Blanc

11. 1989 Hermitage Blanc

12. 1985 Hermitage Blanc

13. 2010 L’Hermitage Rouge

14. 2003 Hermitage Rouge

15. 2001 Hermitage Rouge

16. 1998 Hermitage Rouge

17. 1991 Ermitage Rouge “Cuvée Cathelin”

18. 1990 Hermitage Rouge

19. 1983 Hermitage Rouge

20. 1979 Hermitage Rouge

21. 1971 Hermitage Rouge

22. 1990 Hermitage Vin de Paille