Paul Jaboulet Aine Hermitage ‘La Chapelle’ 2019

A legendary cru… Over centuries, this mythical cru has built its reputation on a single hill, and an epic history. In the beginning, the hill was home to a hermitage founded by Henri Gaspard de Sterimberg in 1224. This knight, returning from the Albigensian Crusade, and weary of bloodshed, asked permission to Blanche of Castille to take refuge from the world on the summit of this granite hill. Soon joined by others, the community began to plant vines… A charming tale, but one that overlooks the fact that the hermitage owes only its name to the hermit: the vineyard has existed since ancient times with the famous wines of Vienne.

98+ Points – Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

It boasts exciting aromas of roasted meat, mocha, crushed stone, plum and cassis on the nose. It’s full-bodied, concentrated, richly tannic and velvety in texture. It’s long and complex on the finish, adding hints of cracked pepper and salted licorice.

97 Points – Jeb Dunnuck

Showing even better than when I tasted it last year, the 2019 Hermitage La Chapelle is another ripe, powerful, sexy, and full-bodied example of this cuve that brings classic La Chapelle gamey darker fruits as well as smoked meats, chocolate, sandalwood, and peppery spice. Full-bodied on the palate, it has good concentration, lots of ripeness, polished tannins, and a great, great finish.

95 Points – James Suckling

A big, rich wine with intense fruit, showing blackberry, black olive and black truffle character. Full-bodied and layered with chewy tannins that are soft and juicy. Its a little warm on the finish. Yet, the decadence is so attractive and the phenolics keep it in line. This is very solid.