Hermitage La Chapelle - complete vertical 1961-2005
Institute of Directors, London
Tasted Tuesday, May 11, 2010 by Rupert with 2,066 views
Introduction
Held over two evenings, odd-numbered vintages on the first, even on the second. Linden (rightly) anticipated that we wouldn't have the patience to sit with a glass of 61 in front of us without trying it, and so we began with a small sip of this to start with. Thereafter we worked back chronologically. We had two bottles of the 1982 and 1983 and both were served.
The highs were very high indeed. Our bottle of the '61 was all it's cracked up to be, although for me the '78 was even better. The '90 was also very highly rated by those present, but to my mind it's got a long way to go before it can be spoken of in the same breath as the '78 and the '61. In general, the wines up to 1978 were fabulous, even the unheralded years like 73 and 74. There were plenty of very attractive wines from the 80s, but nowhere near at the level of the older wines. And frankly nothing since 1990 was very special.
2005 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle 90 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
Glossy fruit, oaky, some florality. Juicy and simple (though this was probably because we'd started with the '61) - more compact than I was expecting
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2004 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle 91 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
Vital fruity syrah, blackberries, some oak, ripe, substantial, some tannin, quite fine
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2003 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle 90 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
Ultra-fruity, this time with raspberries, but this too was surprisingly compact. Nice, and not hot, but not grand.
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2002 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle 90 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
More reticent, lighter than the 04, but some decent perfume, muted but attractive
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2001 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle 88 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
Strong nose, hints of game, tannic and more serious than the 03 and 05, but not so charming
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2000 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle 91 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
Smoky tobaccon nose, raspberries and floral perfume on the nose, but savoury and meaty on the palate, evolved and rather good
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1999 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle 87 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
Soft, lacking in substance, grippy, not very interesting
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1998 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle 88 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
Shy nose, meaty syrah on the palate, but wow so tannic; and acidic. Like the flavour, but harsh and hard to drink right now
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1997 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle Flawed
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
Raisined, oxidative, very tannic
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1996 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle Flawed
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
Oxidative, deep and smoky, but not nice
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1995 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle 88 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
Grippy, earthy, cedary wine, really edgy, tannic - could come round (and Linden was more enthusiastic)
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1994 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle 86 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
Some smoky syrah character, but you have to hunt it, dusty and elusive
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1992 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle 86 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
Dark, healthy looking, but not much there, drying
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1991 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle 88 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
Quite impressive on the nose at first (and it grew more floral in the glass), oxidative on the palate, tannic too
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1990 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle 93 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
Dense, concentrated, tannic - big and impressive, but too tight and tannic right now - others were much more enthusiastic, and I can see that there's a good chance it will turn into something fantastic - just not sure that it will happen in my lifetime
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1989 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle 92 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
Rich, gamy, some smoke, meaty and hot, but with real syrah character, grippy, plush - just lacks a bit of oomph
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1988 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle 91 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
Spice and cedar and herbs, sharp, attractively so, some grip - a nice mature hermitage
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1987 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle 86 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
Unpromising raw nose, very tannic, substantial, tannic, edgy, might be better with food - tastes old
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1986 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle Flawed
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
Corked, oxidised, the works
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1985 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle 92 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
A bit dry and mdeicinal to start with, powerful, resolved, grew in the glass and ended up very yummy
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1984 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle Flawed
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
Oxidised - Linden hadn't bothered to pour it - but it wasn't as bad as the 86 and the 96
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1983 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle 88 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
Elusive, over mature, some meat and richness, very tannic - I've had better bottles of this
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1983 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle 92 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
Second bottle: smooth, fresh, lifted syrah fragrance, lovely
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1982 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle 91 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
First bottle: Browning, but fresh lifted nose, nice melange of acid, tannic and mellow syrah fruit
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1982 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle 93 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
Second bottle: meatier, smokier, grippy, more mouthfilling - superb, more dimensions than the first bottle and more vigorous
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1981 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle 89 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
A good fresh leafy syrah, iodine, cedar, lean, and a bit raw in places - good in parts
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1980 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle 93 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
Lovely mature syrah fragrance, smoky, mellow, but plenty of oomph, gorgeous
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1979 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
Oxidative nose, dark and meaty, but not nice
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1978 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle 98 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
Piercing, cedar and herb nose, wild, multi-layered, so vigorous - SENSATIONAL (this is the highest mark I've given a wine on CT)
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1977 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle 89 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
Light, luminous, tea-like and herby, tobacco on the nose - I liked this, as did Linden, to the derision of the others present
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1976 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle 90 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
Promising nose, a bit earthy, then sweet, some spice, soft texture, but some grip too, very pleasant
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1975 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle 91 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
Strong iodine and mothball nose, silky texture, red-fruited syrah fragrance - liked it
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1974 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle 91 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
Fresh, vanillin, soft, but mouthfilling and really rather lovely
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1973 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle 93 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
Strong, berried, warm, concentrated, liquorice toned, long and gorgeous
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1972 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle 88 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
A bit sweaty, but some vigour, meaty palate, OK
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1971 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle 92 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
Still dark, smoky, rich and vigorous, some grip, excellent
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1970 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle 91 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
Dry, dusty and malty, quite rich, a bit straight, but very good
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1969 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle 94 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
Gentle, but harmonious, rich, olive toned, meaty, fantastic
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1967 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle 95 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
Bigger than the 69, more perfumed, mouthfilling and enticing, gorgeously soft textured. Fantastic
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1966 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle 93 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
Strong, round, animale, mouthfilling with a persistent syrah core, excellent
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1964 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle Flawed
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
Oxidised to buggery
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1962 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle 92 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
Light, faded, but very pretty - fine and rather lovely
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1961 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle 97 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
Animal, rich, gamey, lots of dried herbs, concentrated, very syrah, very fragrant, mouthfilling and complete - lived up to its reputation, but not as striking as the bottle I had 15 years ago.
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