Paul Jaboulet Aîné
La Chapelle Hermitage Syrah
Hermitage, Northern Rhône, Rhône, France
My bottle of choice for a northern Rhône themed tasting with the WNH.
Knowing this is young for La Chapelle, I double decanted this for a little over two hours before my first sip. Talk about a brick wall. Both aromatically and on the palate, this was not giving at all. At the three hour mark, clove, licorice and all spice showed up on the nose alongside tart rhubarb and a sanguine character on the palate. Both sadly (and thankfully), at hour five in the decanter, this was like a boxer who had been lulling me to sleep with body shots and then suddenly started taking hook shots to the face. Hello! This really flexed its muscles when paired with bolognese. The wine gained a floral/violet/potpourri nose with a touch of black pepper and herbs de Provence. The weight and density bulked up and it channeled a touch of meat and pepper, tar, black cherries and underripe blackberries. Acidity was energetic throughout the evening and the tannins increased by the last glass.
If opening now, I’d decant at least 4+hrs, or hold off another 5-7yrs.
My bottle of choice for a northern Rhône themed tasting with the WNH.
Knowing this is young for La Chapelle, I double decanted this for a little over two hours before my first sip. Talk about a brick wall. Both aromatically and on the palate, this was not giving at all. At the three hour mark, clove, licorice and all spice showed up on the nose alongside tart rhubarb and a sanguine character on the palate. Both sadly (and thankfully), at hour five in the decanter, this was like a boxer who had been lulling me to sleep with body shots and then suddenly started taking hook shots to the face. Hello! This really flexed its muscles when paired with bolognese. The wine gained a floral/violet/potpourri nose with a touch of black pepper and herbs de Provence. The weight and density bulked up and it channeled a touch of meat and pepper, tar, black cherries and underripe blackberries. Acidity was energetic throughout the evening and the tannins increased by the last glass.
If opening now, I’d decant at least 4+hrs, or hold off another 5-7yrs.
Dark red fruits, good density, barrel cinnamon.
Dark red fruits, good density, barrel cinnamon.
2 people found it helpfulOct 17th, 2016
slightly subdued nose of violets, plum & cassis ~ richness integrated w tart fruits & tobacco finish
slightly subdued nose of violets, plum & cassis ~ richness integrated w tart fruits & tobacco finish
2 people found it helpfulJan 21st, 2016Hitting spots. Such a great bottle. Easily accessible fruit with a solid backbone.
Hitting spots. Such a great bottle. Easily accessible fruit with a solid backbone.
1 person found it helpfulApr 18th, 2016Yea baby! Came out swinging. Lots of wine here but balanced very well. Needed a good amount of air but this was absolutely singing.
Yea baby! Came out swinging. Lots of wine here but balanced very well. Needed a good amount of air but this was absolutely singing.
1 person found it helpfulMar 16th, 2016
Wine blogger doxologywine.com; Freelance Sommelier (Court of Master Sommeliers) Doxology Wine Consulting
Red fruit, peppers and violets. This wine is best for drinking soon as it doesn't have the fruit to last for much more than 8-10 years.
Red fruit, peppers and violets. This wine is best for drinking soon as it doesn't have the fruit to last for much more than 8-10 years.
Jun 22nd, 2015
Brooding nose of leather, smoke olive black cherry tar, dried meat and licorice, deep and complex. Massive but tight on palate, loads of cherry olivine extract, but quite sharp. Very mineral, big mid, acid could be higher. Very syrah, and high caliber juice...far too young to drink though. Give at least 7-8 more years..2011 vintage.
Brooding nose of leather, smoke olive black cherry tar, dried meat and licorice, deep and complex. Massive but tight on palate, loads of cherry olivine extract, but quite sharp. Very mineral, big mid, acid could be higher. Very syrah, and high caliber juice...far too young to drink though. Give at least 7-8 more years..2011 vintage.
Mar 9th, 2015
2011 this was showing pretty well actually, cracked pepper, purple and blue fruit notes, meat and crushed rocks.
2011 this was showing pretty well actually, cracked pepper, purple and blue fruit notes, meat and crushed rocks.
Oct 28th, 2014