Hermitage La Chapelle Jaboulet 2009

Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle 2009 is a full-bodied Syrah from the hill of Hermitage in the northern Rhône valley. This cuvée is named after the tiny chapel which sits atop the hill of Hermitage overlooking the river Tain which runs through the valley. The chapel was purchased by the Jaboulet family in 1919 and has give then name to their iconic Hermitage red ever since. "One of my favourite vintages of this cuvée, the 2009 Hermitage La Chapelle comes from a ripe, blockbuster styled year yet now, at age 13, is pure, classic Hermitage with its darker currant and blackberry fruits as well as notes of smoked meats, leather, soy sauce, graphite, and roasted herbs. Powerful, concentrated, and full-bodied on the palate, it`s shed most of its baby fat and has a classic, elegant mouthfeel, ripe yet still present tannins, and a gorgeous finish. This is clearly the finest example of this cuvée after the 1990. However, while the 1990 still tastes like an infant, this certainly shows some maturity and is ready to go. Nevertheless, it has another 20-30 years of prime drinking ahead of it." Jeb Dunnuck, 2022