Yann Chave

The story begins in 1970 when Nicole and Bernard Chave purchased 4 hectares near the village of Mercurol, right in the heart of Crozes-Hermitage. Only 1 hectare was planted with vines, the rest was fruit trees. By 1972, they saved enough to plant their other 3 hectares. At first, they sold grapes to negociants and the Tain l'Hermitage cooperative. In 1983 they built their own cellar, and the first vintage they bottled themselves came from 1996. The domaine sits in the Northern Rhône, where vines in Crozes-Hermitage come from Mercurol, La Roche de Glun and Pont de l'Isere. Their Hermitage parcels feature massal selections over 50 years old, deep rooted in loess soil, south-facing on the hillside. Yann took over from his father in 1996 and has lifted the estate's reputation considerably. Yann was really interested in vines and began farming organically, which made keeping fruit trees difficult, so he removed them in 2003. The domaine was a pioneer in organic viticulture, introducing it in the early 2000s and obtaining certification in 2007. When Yann started, the vineyard was 5 hectares in Crozes-Hermitage and 1 in Hermitage, now it's grown to 1.2 hectares in Hermitage and 18 hectares in Crozes-Hermitage, plus 2 hectares in Saint-Joseph. All farming is done using only organic vineyard management techniques. No industrial yeast is used during vinification, and wines are matured in vats to maintain fruitiness and prevent wood influence for the classic cuvées. Yann Chave produces 3 red wines and 1 white wine, with only 1 red wine in Hermitage. The Hermitage comes from vines in the lieux-dits of Beaumes and Peleat, with 80% planted in Beaumes, next to Le Meal. The Hermitage is vinified in stainless steel vats, then aged in neutral 600 liter barrels for 17 months. For Crozes-Hermitage, the range includes the classic red, Le Rouvre from plots where Syrah has been growing for over 50 years, selected for deep, velvety tannins and optimal aging qualities, and a white wine. The white is usually a blend of 70% Marsanne and 30% Roussanne, aged in neutral tanks. The wines showcase pure Syrah character from the Northern Rhône, balancing elegance with the substance these terroirs provide.