Wine Reviews

On the nose, it’s gently cedary, with crushed stone and pencil shavings accenting dark, plummy fruit, plus mocha, earth and black olives. It’s full-bodied but not that rich or concentrated, with an open-knit feel and a shortage of energy and drive on the finish.

The promising 2022 Hermitage La Chapelle checks in at 14.2% alcohol. Pronounced peppercorn, crushed violets, blueberry, black cherry, cedar and licorice are all pushed forward. Layered and deep, the 2022 exudes wonderful elegance and freshness despite its marked flavor concentration. Powdery tannins gently structure this outgoing La Chapelle, finishing with a discrete salty sensation on the persistent finish.

A cornucopia of forest berries, wild herbs and flowers pour from the glass. Incredibly focused and structured on the super-concentrated, medium- to full-bodied palate. As it aerates, notes of licorice, bark and black olive tapenade unfurl.

The 2022 Hermitage La Chapelle brings more structure and depth, yet plays in the similar style of the estate. Beautiful cassis, graphite, crushed violets, and ground pepper all emerge on the nose, and it hits the palate with medium-bodied richness, a silky, elegant, layered mouthfeel, a terrific sense of minerality, and outstanding length. It’s not going to require a huge amount of cellaring and should have a broad drink window.

The flagship 2021 Hermitage La Chapelle (which is now released under the “Domaine de la Chapelle” label) was vinified in stainless steel and aged in 15% new barrels, with 10% in concrete eggs. It has an almost Côte Rôtie-like elegance and has perfumed aromatics of red and blue fruits, peppery herbs, smoke, and sappy, minty herbs. Medium-bodied and nicely balanced, with fine-grained tannins, it has solid underlying depth and structure, and warrants 4-5 years of bottle age. It will have 15+ years of prime drinking.