1991 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Ermitage Cuvée Cathelin

Community Tasting Notes (12) Avg Score: 96.8 points

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  8/16/2019 - David Paris (dbp) wrote: 93 Points

  Jean-Louis Chave in person for E&R's 20th Anniversary, with 22 of his wines! (E&R Wine Shop, Portland OR): Elegant and round on the nose. Beautiful round structure, and showing quite a lot of fruit and completeness, though still not as much depth on the nose as the best vintages tonight... it just feels a little slight. So, so soft texture on palate entry. Yes, the texture is crazy complete and perhaps the best of the night with its unique body. The flavors are rich, with some slightly oxidative notes and round luscious plums. It's rich and pretty in the mouth, but a bit ripe compared to the best vintages of the normale. Still beautiful flavors in the mouth, for sure. The finish has a beautiful dial up of acidity and balanced structure. Really lovely acidity with a round impression left for some time. A pretty wine, but not the world beater I had hoped for.

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  6/18/2019 - beatles wrote: 97 Points

  Second time tasting this - and I can still remember the first time! This is a beat, masculin, dark, notes of single malt and Cohiba-cigars, the taste is smoke, dark fruit, roasted notes ...
  #HermitageFest

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  7/13/2018 - tinybubbles Likes this wine: 97 Points

  Quite pleased with this bottle and its blend of explosive spice, sharp and fine acids on the palate, great energy, and soil and mineral notes. Full and ripe but still well defined fruit and an incredibly rich palate that continues to build up to the long and energetic finish. Very good bottle with a lot of evolution ahead of it. 97-98

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  9/14/2016 - Kemo Sabe Likes this wine: 97 Points

  Huge 1991 Rhone Bday dinner celebration at Marea. Thanks Mike!!
  
  So this was served in a flight with the 91 Chave Hermitage and a 91 La Chapelle. Let put the Jaboulet aside for now. The two Chave's next to one another was fascinating. The Cathelin seemed much younger, much bigger. Both in taste and appearance. The Hermitage was classic Chave - rustic and loads of nuance and secondary flavors. Several people preferred the Hermitage. In both cases I would say these bottles are in their drinking window and will be for a long time. The Cathelin could easily go for another 15-20 with no slippage. It was amazing for a wine 25 years of age. I doubt the Hermitage will be able to keep up with the longevity of the Cathelin. For now it comes down to personal tastes between the two. Having said that and given how good both of these wines are today its hard to see paying 6x for the Cathelin vs the Hermitage.

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  9/14/2016 - The Vines That Bind wrote: 98 Points

  Rare Northern Rhone Birthday - 1991: First Cuvee Cathelin and simply magnificent. The bouquet is expansive and encompasses everything from fire pit to cool mixing concrete to wild animistic characteristics. Big red berry and blueberry fruit on the palate with supremely clean and pure texture. Plenty of juice but layered and nuanced. Can spend a lot of time enjoying and thinking about this one. Magic.

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