2024 Jean-Louis Chave Selection Crozes-Hermitage Blanc Sybele, Northern Rhone

Jean Louis Chave carries one of the Rhône Valley’s most extraordinary family legacies, with the Chaves tracing their winemaking history back to 1481. Based in Mauves and revered for Hermitage, Jean Louis also created the Sélection range to work with carefully sourced fruit from across the Northern Rhône. Sybèle brings that formidable Chave experience to white Crozes Hermitage at a considerably friendlier price than the family’s legendary Hermitage Blanc.

Sybèle is a Northern Rhône white built around Marsanne and Roussanne, varieties that thrive in the warm days and cooler nights of Crozes Hermitage. Marsanne provides body, orchard fruit and that gently waxy texture, while Roussanne contributes perfume and freshness. The 2024 has a lovely balance between richness and energy, avoiding the heaviness that Rhône whites can sometimes develop while retaining plenty of character.

Bright straw gold with ripe pear, white peach and yellow apple followed by lemon and honeysuckle. Chamomile, fresh almond and fennel add savoury complexity, with a little beeswax and ginger emerging as it opens. The palate is rounded and silky, with orchard and stone fruit through the middle before fresh acidity gives it shape. Preserved lemon, almond and gentle herbal notes linger across a dry, textured finish.

Roast snapper with fennel, saffron and lemon would be superb with the wine’s combination of texture and freshness. Grilled scallops, crab with brown butter, roast cauliflower with tahini or leek and Comté tart would also have plenty to work with. Give it a decent sized glass and don’t serve it glacially cold. There is far too much going on here to numb it into submission.

Cellaring: Drink now to 2034.