Chave/J.L. Sélection Hermitage Farconnet 2008

90 points Josh Raynolds (International Wine Cellar): "Saturated ruby. Lively, spice-accented aromas of cassis, licorice, violet and tobacco. Dense, juicy and intensely flavored, with energetic red and blackberry qualities and licorice and floral pastille nuances. Firm tannins add shape to the gently sweet finish. (Mar 2012)"

Importer notes: "100% Syrah. The grapes come from 3 distinctive parts of the Hermitage hill. The majority of the blend comes from Diognières, which is at the base of the hill on alluvial soil with many small pebbles. It lends a note of spice to the wine. The next parcel is Péleat. It sits above Diognières and is composed of more sand and limestone in the clay. It gives finesse to the wine. And finally, Greffieux sits at the base of Le Méal on the hill. Its soil consists fo rolled river stones brought by the glaciers. It brings structure to the finished wine. Farconnet was the name of a nobleman back in the time of Jean-Louis Chave's great grandfather. He was actually the man from whome the great grandfather bought the Bessards parcel."