Usual Suspects

This tasting may have sold a few more on the N. Rhone, unfortunately. The La Chapelle's showed consistent themes (other than 1994) of classic Syrah, saddle leather, floral characteristics, white pepper. Fruit being present but secondary to structure and an extremely balanced frame of fine tannins with fresh acidity. While power was present it was understatement and elegance that prevailed. The comparison of similar wine making between Hermitage and Cornas really highlighted the differences and while the Cornas' were fun and wonderful, the Hermitage's was two steps up in class and elegance. La Chapelle really rocks.

• 1998 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage Blanc Chevalier de Sterimberg

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

  Straw tinted yellow. Waxy, fresh hay, cocoanut, pear, honey, mineral notes combine for a complex and vibrant nose. Very structred mouthfeel, mineral, bitter notes. Firm, chewy, pebbles in the finish. This wine is more Marsanne dominated in the flavor provile and extremely interesting and would appear to be a great food wine. Showing very well but perhaps even better in five years.

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• 1997 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Cornas Domaine de Saint Pierre

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Cornas

  The color of Cornas. Cooked, stewed tomatoes, grilled toast, prumes, coffee, dark/black fruits. Large scaled, vibrant, smoke. Clean and long finish. This is powerful and while not as together as the 1998, it's a wonderful Cornas. Jaboulet is doing well with this vineyard. Will last for years longer.

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• 1998 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Cornas Domaine de Saint Pierre

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Cornas

  Coll aromas, leather, saddle, slight dampness, mineral, violet. Tighter, structured feel, finer tanninns, but very present with a great core of dark, black, fresh fruit. Fierce wine, very large, very Cornas. Powerful and extremely good Cornas. Long life ahead.

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• 2001 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

  Roses, fresh flowers, white pepper, saddle leather. Tight, slim, silken, very balanced. Medium bodied and probably somewhat shut down. Very vibrant finish. Actually very fine mouth feel, classically Hermitage ... Jaboulet did well, thank goodness.

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• 1996 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

  Darkest hue of the Hermitage part of the lineup. Beginnings of secondary notes, crushed rock, sausage, some dampness, cassis. This has a firm more austere feel. Firmer acidity, earthy, very energetic, some toast. A bit flatter and less sweet, somewhat subdued. Given it's state, hard to see how it will evolve. While it could be shut down, the firm acidity and dampness would indicate less ripeness than I'd like. I'd avoid collecting more of this but will drink again in 7 years just to see. Still, a nice wine.

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• 1997 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

  Nose leads with stewed tomotoes, much riper fruits. Body had great inner mouth perfume, still vibrant, animal, violet. Very fine tannins, fresh. Could be more concentrated but there is enough wine. Long finish. While the nose was looser and riper than my preference, the mouthfeel was classic Hermitage. Lovely wine on it's own but next to the 2001, this wine seemed less elegant.

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• 1994 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

  Ruby red. What's this? Berries, berries. Some horse smell, very fruit driven. More four square, still lively. Chunkier tannins but very enveloped by fruit. Medium long finish. Nice wine but where's the Hermitage?

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• 1990 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

  Dark ruby red, no bricking at all. Classic syrah nose, some saddle leather, white pepper ... still mostly primary. Deep, deep, concentrated fruit. Power with finesse. Fine tannnis very present. Still tightly wound but very present. Perfect balance. Gorgeous. Long, long, long. This wine is just emerging from it's youth. Wait five more years for next try. Wish I had five cases. (

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• 1989 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

  Beginning to brick at edge. Stewed tomatoes, smoke, very ripe fruits. This wine was the loosest most open wine of the night. Wild and a bit all over the place in the mouth Fierce tannins backed by ripe but very present acidity. Tightened and freshened as the evening wore on but stayed very friendly. I was expecting a more concentrated wine and this was lacking some of the elegance from a great Hermitage but it was still extremely interesting, fun in the mouth, vibrant enough and actually reminded me of what 1983 was like 10 years ago. Not sure how this will evolve but there's more than enough wine to age for years. Try again in 3 years.

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• 1983 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

  Ruby core with distinct amber at edges. Blood, carnation, olive notes in a very fresh nose. Tighter feeling than the last few bottles of this I've had. Fiery tannins create a very energetic mouthfeel to a solid core of red fruits, lively acidity lends freshness. This is drinking wonderfully right now and is still wound up a bit. It makes me think this bottles still has a good life ahead of it as the fruit is very well preserved, if hidden. Will this get even better? Great right now ...

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• 1988 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle Flawed

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

  corked

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Great tasting. The Cornas's were wild and wooly and great examples. The La Chapelle's were stately, fiery, complex. The 1983 wowed the entire group and was drinking perfectly. The 1990 was latent perfection. The only complaints were minor and they were that the 1989 and 1997 were perhaps overripe. The 2001 looked like Jaboulet is back .. a well made wine but not the pure concentration and power of great years such as 1990.