Domaine de La Chapelle - Hermitage La Chapelle 2009
On the Hermitage hill, above Tain-l’Hermitage, La Chapelle holds a special place in the history of the great wines of northern Rhône. This emblematic cuvée comes from a blend of some of the most renowned parcels on the slope, notably Le Méal, Les Bessards, Les Rocoules, and Les Greffieux, where old Syrah vines find complementary expressions. The most stony and granitic sectors bring structure, freshness, and depth, while the nuances of the slope’s soils enrich the wine’s complexity. The Frey family took over the Paul Jaboulet Aîné house in 2006 and then undertook a fundamental work on viticulture, selections, and aging. The 2009 vintage marks one of the significant milestones of this new period, with a particularly convincing return to the historical level of La Chapelle. That year, the Syrah reached remarkable maturity, producing a powerful wine without sacrificing the mineral energy typical of Hermitage. Its origin in old parcels on the slope largely explains its concentration and exceptional aging potential.
Hermitage La Chapelle 2009 is made exclusively from Syrah, with a major contribution from the terroirs of Méal and Bessards, complemented by the Rocoules. The warm and sunny vintage allowed for high grape maturity and significant concentration, while maintaining a sufficiently fresh structure to support the whole. At this time, the work initiated by Caroline Frey included notably reducing the proportion of new oak to better preserve the expression of the fruit and the different parcel origins. The 2009’s material stands out for considerable density, but the tannins have enough finesse to avoid any massive sensation. Ripe black fruit, licorice, and spices are set within a deep structure now gradually softened by aging. After more than fifteen years in bottle, the wine is beginning to enter a particularly interesting phase, where its initial power is enriched with more complex nuances. Its concentration and balance nevertheless allow it to still envisage a long evolution under good storage conditions.
The color remains deep, a dark garnet whose rim is only just beginning to reveal its evolution. The bouquet combines blackcurrant, blackberry, and dark fruits with notes of licorice, pepper, graphite, and violet. Aeration gradually reveals nuances of smoked meat, tobacco, black olive, and spices, characteristic of a northern Syrah that has reached a first stage of maturity. The palate is ample and concentrated, but its texture has gradually refined to reveal more velvety tannins and remarkable freshness. A mineral dimension crosses the fruit and gives momentum to an otherwise imposing material. The finish is particularly persistent, extended by blackcurrant, licorice, pepper, and smoky and slightly sanguine notes. Hermitage La Chapelle 2009 will accompany a matured rib steak, herb-crusted leg of lamb, roasted pigeon, royal-style hare, or game with wild mushrooms.
Grape variety: 100% Syrah
