CASE PRICE = $108.99 per bottle (add 12+ quantity to your basket)
Jaboulet Hermitage La Petite Chapelle is part of it's sibling La Chapelle until the final blending session when specific parcels and styles are blended to create a wine of similar magnificence, but with a goal of earlier maturity.
From the domaine: "During the 13th century, a knight called Gaspard de Sterimberg settled in the hills of Tain l’Hermitage with the permission of Blanche de Castille. On his return from the crusades, he sought calm and serenity and isolated himself as a hermit, hence the name of the Hermitage appellation. There he built a Chapel, overlooking the Rhône Valley.
La Chapelle endured the passage of time and finally became the property of Maison Paul Jaboulet Aîné in 1919.
Since the legendary 1961 vintage, which was classed as one of the Twelve mythical wines of the 20th century, Hermitage “la Chapelle” has become one of the world’s most sought-after wines."
Terroir: Contrary to popular belief Hermitage La Chapelle and La Petite Chapelle are not sourced from a single parcel of Hermitage. Rather they are a masterful blend of the divers terroirs of Les Bessards, Les Greffeux, Le Méal adn Les Rocoules. The varied richness of these diverse parcels join together to create a wine of incredible complexity and longevity.
Vinification: Grapes are hand-picked and brought to the base of the hill in small sleds. The selected grapes undergo a strict sorting prior to vinification. Each parcel is vinified separately and aged for 15 to 18 months or more in the cellars of the domaine. Once the final blend is chosen, the wine recieves additional time in barrel and is then aged in bottle prior to release to the market.
Ratings & Reviews
92 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate:
"The 2009 Hermitage La Petite Chapelle is better than some of the Hermitage La Chapelles made in the last days of the Jaboulet administration. Its dense purple color is accompanied by aromas of meat, cassis, blackberries and camphor. The wine is supple, luscious, sexy and ideal for drinking over the next 10-15 years.
" - Robert Parker (Dec 2011)
91-93 Points - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar:"Opaque purple. A highly fragrant bouquet displays scents of dark berry preserves, baking spices, violet and anise. Sappy, palate-staining dark fruit flavors pick up a smoky quality with air and pack a serious punch, with a late note of cracked pepper adding bite. Rich but energetic, with very good finishing clarity and spicy length. 91-93 points
" - Josh Raynolds (Jan/Feb '11)
