Domaine de La Chapelle - Hermitage La Chapelle 2006
On the Hermitage hill, in Tain-l’Hermitage, La Chapelle is one of the great historical references of Rhone Syrah. The cuvée is named after the Saint-Christophe chapel that overlooks the slope, acquired by the Jaboulet family at the beginning of the 20th century and became the emblem of the estate. Founded in 1834, the Paul Jaboulet Aîné house built an essential part of its reputation around this wine from the most prestigious sectors of the appellation. La Chapelle notably brings together grapes from Bessards, Méal, Rocoules, and Greffieux, each contributing a particular nuance to the final blend. The granitic, stony, or more clay-limestone soils and the steep slopes give the Syrah depth, tension, and remarkable aging potential. The 2006 vintage also marks an important milestone with the arrival of the Frey family at the head of the property. This particularly favorable year in the northern Rhône produced a classic, deep, and balanced Hermitage, now engaged in a very beautiful phase of evolution.
Hermitage La Chapelle 2006 is made exclusively from Syrah. The grapes come from the different components of the slope, whose blend allows the combination of power, tannic finesse, and aromatic complexity. Old vines play an essential role in this construction, with some plots now associated with La Chapelle bearing vines several decades old. The 2006 vintage benefited from conditions considered particularly favorable to the production of a great wine in the Rhône valley. Its structure appears less massive than that of the sunniest vintages, favoring more balance, freshness, and aromatic definition. Nearly twenty years of evolution have now softened the tannins and revealed a more complex tertiary palette without completely erasing the fruit. A perfectly preserved bottle still has enough depth and tension to continue its evolution in the cellar.
Today, the color shows a deep garnet evolving towards slightly brick-red ruby nuances. The bouquet combines blackberry, blackcurrant, and black plum with notes of violet, black pepper, and spices, before gaining tones of fine leather, black olive, and smoked meat. Aeration can reveal nuances of licorice, graphite, undergrowth, and cocoa, which testify to the maturity of the vintage. The palate remains deep and structured, but the tannins have gradually softened to offer a silkier texture. A mineral freshness crosses the matter and gives length to a fruit now mixed with smoky, spicy, and slightly earthy notes. The finish lingers long on pepper, black fruits, dry herbs, and a stony dimension characteristic of great Hermitage. La Chapelle 2006 will accompany a matured rib steak, a roasted rack of lamb, pigeon, royal hare, or game served with wild mushrooms.
Grape variety: 100% Syrah
