Paul Jaboulet Aîné
La Chapelle Hermitage Syrah
Hermitage, Northern Rhône, Rhône, France
The weekend upon us and we're hosting another dinner party for a couple of friends. Tonight's theme was Rhone wine, so good stuff on deck, with age.
Notes pending... (Entertaining guests first 😉)
Absolutely perfect, yet only coming into it's zone, decade to go here...
Notes from +24H open:
Nose has ripe cherry, dried cherry, dried blackberry, red velvet cake, ripe plum and dry, mineral-ly earth.
Palate has silky-sweet cherry, ripe red currant, (light) cigar wrapper, dried cherry, faint eucalyptus, faint wood notes, dry earth, faint iron notes on the long finish. Mild tannins persist today. Expect to enjoy this vintage another +10Y when held in proper storage.
This bottle was singing at the top of its register last night, slightly diminished today. Absolutely perfect cork, no Durand required for extraction. Acquired a mere two years ago, from a local retailer beginning to close down his shop. He purchased a case on release, stored in his cold cellar; when I got to hunting it only a single bottle remained.
I've had the 2000 vintage before, and it was a treat in a more youthful stage, but a delicacy with our meal last night. We baked a 3lb beef tenderloin (Kinderhook Farm; Valatie, NY) coated in an herb paste then an herbed panko crumb crust with parmesan. About a 50m cook, 30m rest yeilded a perfect 130° center. Served alongside smashed potatoes and roasted brussel sprouts with thick cut bacon. We had fantastic company, connecting again with a wine trade friend and his wife after a few years break in our dining schedules.
The weekend upon us and we're hosting another dinner party for a couple of friends. Tonight's theme was Rhone wine, so good stuff on deck, with age.
Notes pending... (Entertaining guests first 😉)
Absolutely perfect, yet only coming into it's zone, decade to go here...
Notes from +24H open:
Nose has ripe cherry, dried cherry, dried blackberry, red velvet cake, ripe plum and dry, mineral-ly earth.
Palate has silky-sweet cherry, ripe red currant, (light) cigar wrapper, dried cherry, faint eucalyptus, faint wood notes, dry earth, faint iron notes on the long finish. Mild tannins persist today. Expect to enjoy this vintage another +10Y when held in proper storage.
This bottle was singing at the top of its register last night, slightly diminished today. Absolutely perfect cork, no Durand required for extraction. Acquired a mere two years ago, from a local retailer beginning to close down his shop. He purchased a case on release, stored in his cold cellar; when I got to hunting it only a single bottle remained.
I've had the 2000 vintage before, and it was a treat in a more youthful stage, but a delicacy with our meal last night. We baked a 3lb beef tenderloin (Kinderhook Farm; Valatie, NY) coated in an herb paste then an herbed panko crumb crust with parmesan. About a 50m cook, 30m rest yeilded a perfect 130° center. Served alongside smashed potatoes and roasted brussel sprouts with thick cut bacon. We had fantastic company, connecting again with a wine trade friend and his wife after a few years break in our dining schedules.
Substantial VA gives the impression of phenolic immaturity. Light cranberry fruit hangs over reflection of smoked meats lost. Hidden eucalyptus, bay leaf, white pepper resolution.
Substantial VA gives the impression of phenolic immaturity. Light cranberry fruit hangs over reflection of smoked meats lost. Hidden eucalyptus, bay leaf, white pepper resolution.
May 4th, 2016
Tired and maybe a victim of not so great storage, the Hermitage character was buried in there, barely.
Tired and maybe a victim of not so great storage, the Hermitage character was buried in there, barely.
Mar 4th, 2016
Sentimental bottle w/the person who gifted it to me!
30+ minute decant. Reddish brown color. Rustic nose of plums, dirt, and stewed cherries. Wine was definitely over the hill, but had enough there to make it fun!
Sentimental bottle w/the person who gifted it to me!
30+ minute decant. Reddish brown color. Rustic nose of plums, dirt, and stewed cherries. Wine was definitely over the hill, but had enough there to make it fun!
I was expecting a little more umph. Meaty, yes, but not what I expected.
I was expecting a little more umph. Meaty, yes, but not what I expected.
Oct 14th, 2017
Sad showing of this wine despite the great terroir. This was a bad stretch for this iconic northern rhone (from 1992 until very recently)
Sad showing of this wine despite the great terroir. This was a bad stretch for this iconic northern rhone (from 1992 until very recently)
Sep 29th, 2017
From magnum. Still a baby but so tasty right now
From magnum. Still a baby but so tasty right now
May 2nd, 2017
Good red fruit and floral nose. Well structured and soft texture but not as big as I would've thought.
Good red fruit and floral nose. Well structured and soft texture but not as big as I would've thought.
Jan 2nd, 2016