1997 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage (10/5/2009)
After having had a lot of disappointing wine experiences recently, I decided to open something that I thought would surely excite me, and this bottle of La Chapelle delivered big-time. I followed this wine over the course of two nights. On day one, the wine showed very tight, massive and youthful. Almost a little Southern Rhone-ish with earth, herbs, and dark plum and blackberry fruit. It only lacked a little focus and generosity. On night two, though, this minor issue was corrected. Black olive aromas, meaty tones, and black currant had come to the mix overnight, and the fruit showed the focus I had hoped for all along. The more air the wine got, the more focused it became, yet at the same time, it kept unfurling and the fruit got broader and sweeter. This may not be a 1989 or 1990 La Chapelle, but it’s an amazing wine that I could never have enough of. If I would get to open another bottle anytime soon, I would decant for at least 5 hours, or even better, audouze it overnight in the cellar.
Pelz On Wine: 1997 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle (France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage)" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;