Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage Blanc 2022

From the earliest harvest in the estate's history, Domaine Jean-Louis Chave's Hermitage Blanc 2022 is a rich, opulent and cellar-worthy white wine crafted predominantly from Marsanne with a touch of Roussanne. This vintage perfectly showcases the signature depth and dense complexity that has made the Chave family synonymous with Hermitage and a Northern Rhône benchmark. This is Chave's white Hermitage, grown on the hill's granite slopes in France's Northern Rhône. Expect a full-bodied, dense wine with orchard fruit, honey and spice, built to reward years in the cellar. It's a highly regarded wine, rated 97 POINTS by Jeb Dunnuck.

In the glass it shows layers of beeswax, dried flowers and stone fruit, with a rich, textured palate that turns savoury on a long, mineral finish.

This wine would pair well with rich seafood like scallops or a creamy chicken dish, and it's the kind of white that holds its own alongside red wine drinkers at the table.

What it tastes like

The nose shows honeysuckle, quince and ripe peach alongside baked orchard fruit, spice and a hint of jasmine. The palate is full-bodied and concentrated, with a suave, textured mouthfeel that carries through to a long, savoury finish with real phenolic grip. It's a serious white built to age.

Style at a glance

• Body: Full
• Sweetness: Dry
• Acidity: Medium-plus
• Oak: Fermented and matured in a mix of French oak barrels and stainless steel tank

Style: Dense, age-worthy white Rhône blend.

Food to enjoy this with

• Scallops seared in butter
• Roast chicken with tarragon
• Creamy seafood risotto
• Aged Comté or Gruyère
• Lobster with drawn butter
• Roast pork belly with an apple sauce, an unexpected match where the wine's richness and acidity stand up to the fat

Who makes it

Domaine Jean-Louis Chave has been making wine on this hill since 1481, and the family is now 16 generations in, regarded as one of the benchmark names in the Northern Rhône.

The Hermitage Blanc is usually 80-85% Marsanne and 15-20% Roussanne, grown across 5 parcels including Les Rocoules, L'Hermite, Péléat and Maison Blanche. Some of the vines in Les Rocoules are close to 100 years old.

The grapes are fermented in a mix of French oak and stainless steel, then matured for up to 18 months in a combination of oak barrels and tank.

For the 2022 vintage, picking ran from 23 to 28 August, the earliest harvest in the Domaine's history, in a season that pushed for riper fruit than usual.

About the vintage

The 2022 growing season in the Northern Rhône was hot and dry from the start, with some of the lowest rainfall on record and several serious heatwaves through summer.

For the whites, Inter Rhône described the wines as dense and generous, with real aromatic complexity, well suited to cellaring despite the heat.

Critic scores and ratings

• 97 POINTS – Jeb Dunnuck – Jeb Dunnuck, May 2025
• 95 POINTS – Yohan Castaing – Wine Advocate, March 2025

When to drink it

This isn't one to rush either. Jeb Dunnuck says it drinks well within its first 4 to 5 years, or after a decade in the cellar, and Wine Advocate's window runs from 2028 through to 2042.

Technical details

Where to buy

The Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage Blanc 2022 is available online at thewineryonline.co.nz for delivery within New Zealand. You can also buy it at our Queenstown and Arrowtown wine stores, alongside a large range of New Zealand and international wine. Online and in both stores you can select a mixed case from a large range of wines.

Questions we are often asked

What grapes is Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage Blanc 2022 made from?

It's mostly Marsanne with a smaller portion of Roussanne, grown across several parcels on the hill of Hermitage in France's Northern Rhône.

How long should I cellar this wine?

It's built to age. Wine Advocate's window runs from 2028 through to 2042, though Jeb Dunnuck says it also drinks well within its first 4 to 5 years.

What food goes well with this wine?

Rich dishes like scallops, roast chicken or aged Comté suit its full body and bright acidity.

Has this wine won any awards or high scores?

Yes, it was rated 97 POINTS by Jeb Dunnuck and 95 POINTS by Wine Advocate.

What makes Domaine Jean-Louis Chave's Hermitage Blanc different?

The Domaine has been making wine on this hill since 1481, and some of the vines used for this wine, in Les Rocoules, are close to 100 years old.

Where can I buy Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage Blanc 2022?

The Winery sells Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage Blanc 2022 online at thewineryonline.co.nz for delivery within New Zealand. You can also buy it in our Queenstown and Arrowtown wine stores.