This dark, inky, almost opaque ‘09 Hermitage La Chapelle oozes across the palate with notes of brambly dark fruit, au jus, exotic spices, smoke, umami and pencil lead. Silky, viscous, rich and opulent in the mouth, this La Chapelle nonetheless has outstanding structure, freshness and balance--simply put, it’s an exquisite Hermitage and it shows that winemaker-owner Caroline Frey is at the top of her game. Deriving primarily from Le Meal and Les Bessards vineyards, with a touch of Les Roucoules fruit, the 2009 vintage clearly makes evident that Jaboulet is back on track with some dramatic changes; selections are stringent and yields have been significantly reduced from their typical 8,000-10,000 case production to a mere 2,000 in 2009. The results are more concentration, purer fruit and more structure--in fact, this may be the greatest La Chapelle since 1978.
- Country: France
- Region: Rhône Valley
- Subregion/Classification: Northern Rhône
- Commune/Village: Hermitage
Producing wine from 26 different Rhône appellations, Paul Jaboulet Aîné has a long history of setting the standard in the region and for its impressive holdings in renowned appellations. Founded in 1834 by Antoine Jaboulet, this estate rose to prominence in the mid-twentieth century under the late, great Paul Jaboulet Aîné, who left the estate in the hands of Philippe and Jacques Jaboulet. In early 2006, the Frey family bought Jaboulet and began to overhaul the estate, using sustainable growing methods with a turn toward biodynamic farming, strict grape yields, longer fermentation and aging in newer barrels. Known for its rich, dense, elegant, and long-aging wines that speak volumes about their Rhône terroir, Jaboulet once again sits at the peak of winemaking.
|
