September 19, 2023 - High intensity and high energy. Black pepper, smoke and red cherry fruit, expressing just enough ripeness alongside a muscular core of acidity and tannins that remind you of the wine’s pedigree. Delicious paired with a flame-grilled pork chop.
September 30, 2022 - Medium purple with a ruby rim. Attractive aromas of boysenberry, black pepper, wood smoke and maybe lemon rind. Impressive intensity on the palate, where an interplay between sweet and savory elements reprises boysenberry, smoke and pepper, along with ripe plums. The tannins are fully resolved. Finishes on a fresh and tangy plum skin note. Excellent.
September 6, 2021 - Un peu (trop) animal et olive.
July 30, 2021 - Double-decanted and served one hour later, this is a delicious, balanced and savory Syrah, with lots of dark fruit flavors and aromas, a good acid backbone, and well -integrated tannins. It is a straightforward wine, with little complexity, and seems to be past its peak, so I woukd drink up. Definitely not worth its $60-90 price; they are trading excessively in the wonderful Chave name.
April 11, 2021 - Hour and a half decant, this has the classic elements of a northern Rhone syrah, with black licorice, black olive, charcoal and black fruit all working together around velvety tannins and smooth acidity. Not fruit forward, this is for those that appreciate wine with a different type of nuance to it.
December 21, 2020 - Needed a long decant to show its best. Fourth time experiencing this wine over the last five years and it appears to be drinking near its peak.
Medium purple. Expressive aromas of wild berries, smoke and savory bacon. The attack is generous and penetrating, showing ripe fruit balanced with piercing acidity — salivary glands get a jolt from the brambly tartness. Soft rubber-coated tannins on the long finish lend a pleasing pucker to the palate. In a good place right now.
August 31, 2020 - Warm and friendly but veering to the slightly soft and over warm flavors
August 22, 2020 - Big round fruit, but good delineation and balance. Hit its stride after 60-minute decant and held over 4 hours. Lingering finish. Marvelous.
April 12, 2020 - First time I've had the Chave selection Hermitage. Really quite delicious for the price. The nose is ripe plum, black raspberry, followed by hints of smoke, iron, and violets. Classic northern Rhone syrah. The palate is still quite big and robust, plenty of structure, but loads of ripe fruit that buffers everything. Still manages to have quite nice balance. Delicious with elk tenderloin. Will continue to get better for 5+ years easily.
January 16, 2020 - Seven hour slow-ox. The 2009 Farconnet is a big-ish, delicious, balanced wine with classic but subtle Syrah and Northern Rhone qualities. It is drinking beautifully right now. The wine seems to be more about body and flavor than about aromatic complexity, but it is definitely not a New World style fruit bomb. The red and black fruit aromas and flavors also release a spicy floral fragrance. The wine has a great acid backbone and a nice sappy quality, with tannins that are present but not intrusive, and a nice bittersweet finish. I recall that the year was a hot one, but the 14% alcohol is well-integrated. A delicious wine, yet (at least at ten years of age) it does not deserve a $70-90 price tag, so not a good QPR. It will shine for many more years.