Part of a horizontal of 1990 red Hermitage. Back in the 80’s and 90’s I was fortunate enough to visit the sacred Chave cellars in Mauves on multiple occasions.. I met Gérard three times and happened to be there when Jean-Louis returned from his educational sojourn at Hartford and UC Davis. After tasting the bottled 1989 Rouge and the constituents of the 1990 Chave Hermitage Rouge, I was hooked on these wines, and subsequently went deep in the 1990 vintage- buying whatever was available. I have been lucky to follow the development of their prodigious 1990 reds, having enjoyed the Rouge 13 times since the early 90’s, and the fabled Cuvée Cathelin 5 times. The Cathelin Ermitage bottling first appeared in 1990 to commemorate a special painting made for the Chaves by a family friend-a local artist Bernard Cathelin. According to JL, the only difference between this and the “Regular” bottling, is that the cepage is almost exclusively from grapes originating in les Bessards vineyards on the hill of Hermitage, with a boatload of granite in the soil. In the decanter the Cathelin is darker than the regular 1990 Rouge, with an explosive nose of bramble berries and truffe noire, as if served in our 1915 woodshed in Sweden with loads of complexity from old wood and leather saddles . Huge palatal presence with sun dried Somerset black cherries and Bündnerfleisch, with a sprinkle of granite and an endless finish feathered with subtle pink peppercorns and cocoa, not unlike a Peacock’s tail that we witness rarely in Burgundy. Mamma mia, red wine does not get better than this! Best now-2060.
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In the character of the regular cuvee, and while I did not enjoy this bottle as much as my last '90 Cathelin, it displayed a a great balance of dark red fruit, earth tones, and spice. A hint too much ripeness on the palate if I am being critical, and a lack of firm delineation on the edges.
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World's Greatest - Night I (Eleven Madison Park): Musty nose... not looking good. Ahhh, heartbreaking. You can sort of see the juice that is underneath, but unfortunately this bottle is corked.
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Mind blowing juice! I've had this wine a few times, and was never really impressed, in part, because of the oak treatment. Obviously, the secret was not waiting 27 years because I could not believe how great this was! Truffle, wet forest floor, black cherries, earth, spice, pepper and herbs only gets the party started! There is an insane opulent texture, tremendous concentration and a finish that does not quit. Voluptuous in nature, yet, pure, sexy and regal, this stunner is off the charts.
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Just an extraordinary wine. Still very young and at first I couldn't differentiate it much from the regular bottling but then after an hour in the glass it began to show itself as a riper, deeper wine with incredible flavors of roasted meats and smoky graphite minerals. The texture is like liquid granite and the wine just flows over the tongue as if woven from the finest silk. The finish is so fine and complex and is loaded with charcoal and smoky minerals. Will only improve but this is just incredible juice. At Latour, Crystal Springs, NJ 97+
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I loved this wine. Wonderful complexity and intensity of flavors. While some perceived this as being too opulent, I appreciated the changing and vibrant engagement this bottle provided over two hours. On the nose, boysenberry, marionberry, spices, tar and cola, all melding together. A nice mustiness and floral sweetness also wraps these flavors together on the palate. Not subtle, but very smooth.
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This was served blind. I was thinking the 90 Rayas, bright red fruits, strawberries, mineral, rare charred steak and coffee. The palate displays silky red fruit, piercing acidity and fully integrated tannins. It seems more delicate than the 90 regular cuvee. I believe the acidity will keep the wine fresh. Drinking beautifully but long life ahead if you don’t mind Burgundian expression that comes with aging.
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I never run across bottles of this rarity, so it was with excitement that I raised the glass to my nose for my first swirl, sniff and taste. Coffee, chocolate, licorice, black cherry and blackberry aromas were easy to find. This full bodied, concentrated wine did not seem as rich or complex as the normal Chave, which seems to express more minerality. Still young, I hope I get another chance to try it again as I know this wine is an incredible rarity.
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Tasted alongside the 90 Hermitage, it was tough to figure out which I preferred. This is clearly bigger and riper, also more concentrated, but less perfectly balanced and integrated. This is more likely to have upside going forward, but is it worth the multiple higher price?
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Rhônes and dinner with Robert Parker (Baltimore, MD): Rudy graciously added this eight bottle to the flight after seeing it on the restaurant list, and it stole the show in my opinion. Complex, round and delicious, it was an absolute revelation for me and one of three perfect wines in the evening in my opinion.
5/14/2022 - ricardito Likes this wine: 100 Points
Part of a horizontal of 1990 red Hermitage. Back in the 80’s and 90’s I was fortunate enough to visit the sacred Chave cellars in Mauves on multiple occasions.. I met Gérard three times and happened to be there when Jean-Louis returned from his educational sojourn at Hartford and UC Davis. After tasting the bottled 1989 Rouge and the constituents of the 1990 Chave Hermitage Rouge, I was hooked on these wines, and subsequently went deep in the 1990 vintage- buying whatever was available. I have been lucky to follow the development of their prodigious 1990 reds, having enjoyed the Rouge 13 times since the early 90’s, and the fabled Cuvée Cathelin 5 times. The Cathelin Ermitage bottling first appeared in 1990 to commemorate a special painting made for the Chaves by a family friend-a local artist Bernard Cathelin. According to JL, the only difference between this and the “Regular” bottling, is that the cepage is almost exclusively from grapes originating in les Bessards vineyards on the hill of Hermitage, with a boatload of granite in the soil. In the decanter the Cathelin is darker than the regular 1990 Rouge, with an explosive nose of bramble berries and truffe noire, as if served in our 1915 woodshed in Sweden with loads of complexity from old wood and leather saddles . Huge palatal presence with sun dried Somerset black cherries and Bündnerfleisch, with a sprinkle of granite and an endless finish feathered with subtle pink peppercorns and cocoa, not unlike a Peacock’s tail that we witness rarely in Burgundy. Mamma mia, red wine does not get better than this! Best now-2060.
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1/8/2019 - jollyannie wrote:
Anyone have any idea how to set up a Have visit?
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7/13/2018 - tinybubbles Likes this wine: 96 Points
In the character of the regular cuvee, and while I did not enjoy this bottle as much as my last '90 Cathelin, it displayed a a great balance of dark red fruit, earth tones, and spice. A hint too much ripeness on the palate if I am being critical, and a lack of firm delineation on the edges.
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5/11/2017 - The Vines That Bind wrote: flawed
World's Greatest - Night I (Eleven Madison Park): Musty nose... not looking good. Ahhh, heartbreaking. You can sort of see the juice that is underneath, but unfortunately this bottle is corked.
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5/11/2017 - tinybubbles wrote: flawed
Corked. Despite the taint, good spice and persistence on the finish.
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1/7/2017 - Jeff Leve wrote: 100 Points
Mind blowing juice! I've had this wine a few times, and was never really impressed, in part, because of the oak treatment. Obviously, the secret was not waiting 27 years because I could not believe how great this was! Truffle, wet forest floor, black cherries, earth, spice, pepper and herbs only gets the party started! There is an insane opulent texture, tremendous concentration and a finish that does not quit. Voluptuous in nature, yet, pure, sexy and regal, this stunner is off the charts.
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3/27/2015 - dream Likes this wine: 97 Points
Just an extraordinary wine. Still very young and at first I couldn't differentiate it much from the regular bottling but then after an hour in the glass it began to show itself as a riper, deeper wine with incredible flavors of roasted meats and smoky graphite minerals. The texture is like liquid granite and the wine just flows over the tongue as if woven from the finest silk. The finish is so fine and complex and is loaded with charcoal and smoky minerals. Will only improve but this is just incredible juice. At Latour, Crystal Springs, NJ 97+
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3/26/2015 - tinybubbles Likes this wine: 98 Points
I loved this wine. Wonderful complexity and intensity of flavors. While some perceived this as being too opulent, I appreciated the changing and vibrant engagement this bottle provided over two hours. On the nose, boysenberry, marionberry, spices, tar and cola, all melding together. A nice mustiness and floral sweetness also wraps these flavors together on the palate. Not subtle, but very smooth.
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2/1/2012 - dcwino wrote: 97 Points
This was served blind. I was thinking the 90 Rayas, bright red fruits, strawberries, mineral, rare charred steak and coffee. The palate displays silky red fruit, piercing acidity and fully integrated tannins. It seems more delicate than the 90 regular cuvee. I believe the acidity will keep the wine fresh. Drinking beautifully but long life ahead if you don’t mind Burgundian expression that comes with aging.
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12/8/2009 - Jeff Leve wrote: 96 Points
I never run across bottles of this rarity, so it was with excitement that I raised the glass to my nose for my first swirl, sniff and taste. Coffee, chocolate, licorice, black cherry and blackberry aromas were easy to find. This full bodied, concentrated wine did not seem as rich or complex as the normal Chave, which seems to express more minerality. Still young, I hope I get another chance to try it again as I know this wine is an incredible rarity.
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5/16/2006 - Burgundy Al wrote: 96 Points
Tasted alongside the 90 Hermitage, it was tough to figure out which I preferred. This is clearly bigger and riper, also more concentrated, but less perfectly balanced and integrated. This is more likely to have upside going forward, but is it worth the multiple higher price?
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2/12/2005 - Eric wrote: 100 Points
Rhônes and dinner with Robert Parker (Baltimore, MD): Rudy graciously added this eight bottle to the flight after seeing it on the restaurant list, and it stole the show in my opinion. Complex, round and delicious, it was an absolute revelation for me and one of three perfect wines in the evening in my opinion.
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