2020 Hermitage Blanc, Domaine Jean-Louis Chave, Rhône

According to Jean-Louis Chave, the 2020 vintage is 'an amazing surprise'. 'It's like the vines adapted to the heat of the vintage - so it's full of hope for me.' A tasting of the different lieux-dits confirms that although this is a hot, dry vintage, the whites have a great sense of freshness, balance and vivacity. This doesn't have the same sense of power and extract as the 2017 or 2019; it is slimmer and more precise, will offer much pleasure early on and will age well, too.Drink 2025 - 2045matt_walls, Decanter.com (October 2021)

Another heavenly white from this estate is the 2020 Hermitage Blanc, the usual 80% Marsanne and 20% Roussanne 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. The purity, balance, and intensity here are just about off the charts, and this beauty deserves a solid decade of bottle age, although you'll be excused if you drink one in its youth as well.Drink after 2032jeb_dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com (December 2022)