Decanted three hours and served with dry aged beef meatloaf, smashed potatoes and sauteed broccoli. Aroma that makes you think you have walked in to a flower shop where someone is cooking bacon while a dish of tapenade is passed under your nose. Then, a mouthful of perfectly ripe black fruit, smooth, dusty tannins, and just the right amount of acidity to focus the long, long, dry finish. All the components are there in the right amounts to give this the promise of a mellowing, long life, but I really like this right now while it is still fresh, vibrant and has an interesting edge or two. Glad I have a few more.
Interesting. I opened a 2007 Chave Silene Crozes-Hermitage a few weeks ago and it was just bland. Not much fruit, not much on the nose. Nothing very interesting, either the first day or a day or two later (refrigerated in the meantime).
Kind of unfair to make the comparison, as the Silene is pretty basic and the Saint Joseph quite a step up in the Chave portfolio.
Indeed.
Agree with Marcus. The Silene is a negociant cuvee that is quite a bit below the Estate St Joseph from a quality and price standpoint. Also, believe the Silene is a wine that should be consumed within a couple of years after its release.
I have in my cellar the Chave Estate St Joseph from the 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010 and 2011 vintages and they are superb wines. Really the essence of Syrah IMHO.
I had the 2005 a few months ago and it was wonderful, very energetic and no where near dropping off. A bottle of the 2004 a couple of years ago wasn’t as good, at that time, and was more marked by acidity than flesh.
The estate Cuvee is from some of the best vineyards in a big appellation, so yeah, it should show much better, and does. I missed the 07, but from 08 onwards I have bought and enjoyed. I had the 08 at the Domaine with some Chef friends who commandeered the kitchen and cooked some lovely duck that paired brilliantly.