2022 Hermitage La Chapelle

Cassis, black raspberries, spicy wood, cured meats, and hints of pepper define the bouquet of the 2022 Hermitage, a beautifully textured, seamless, incredibly elegant Hermitage from this team. Coming from the heart of the Le Méal lieu-dit with a tiny amount from Bessards, it's medium to full-bodied and has a supple, elegant, silky mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and a great finish. It's a brilliant Hermitage that deserves a decade of bottle age and will have 30 to 40 years of longevity. Drink 2032-2072. The big news at Paul Jaboulet Aîné is the separation of their flagship Hermitage La Chapelle and Le Chevalier de Stérimberg into their own label, Domaine de la Chapelle. All remaining wines continue under the Paul Jaboulet Aîné label. The transition began with the 2021 vintage and separates these two wines from the rest of the Jaboulet lineup moving forward. A dedicated winery for Domaine de la Chapelle, designed by architect Bjarke Ingels, is expected to be completed in time for the 2026 harvest. Following the purchase of the estate in 2006, Caroline Frey immediately initiated major changes in the vineyards, including converting to organic farming, dramatically reducing yields, and doubling the size of the vineyard team, all with the goal of improving quality. The domaine has practiced biodynamic farming since 2006 and achieved organic certification in 2016. Domaine de la Chapelle farms approximately 22 hectares on the Hermitage hill, with significant holdings in Le Méal and Les Bessards and additional parcels in lieux-dits such as Les Greffieux, Les Rocoules, and Les Dionnières. Vines range from 40 to 100 years old and are planted across a mix of granite and limestone-based soils. As to the winemaking, everything is destemmed with native fermentations in stainless steel. Elevage takes place in French oak barrels, about 15 percent new, and concrete eggs. The 2022 and 2023 Hermitage cuvées were sourced primarily from Le Méal, with a small portion from Les Bessards.