Bottle Size: 1.5 L
Rating: WS 94, WE 93, RP 92, ST 91, JR 17/20
Year: 1996
$495.00
Very healthy deep crimson. Tangy, meaty nose. Fully evolved nose – almost as though there's some reduced Mourvèdre here. Very promising until the rather dried-out end. The best Jaboulet of these three reds but it cuts off a bit on the finish.
Jancis Robinson.com
Much more expressive on the nose than the '97--and darker and thicker--adding to the evidence that '96 is a better vintage in the northern Rhône. Delivers a round, clean, pure mouthfeel of vibrant, focused red berry and blackberry flavors. Superb balance, as it walks a tightrope among the relatively high acidity, ripe tannins and delicious fruit. Worth cellaring.
P.M., Wine Spectator.
What wonders lie beneath the surface of this tight-as-a-drum baby. Thick as a brick and barely revealing its charm now, this is a wine for the cellar. Monstrous oak is absorbed by the heft of the wine and enviable structure. Will almost certainly become brighter as the years go by.
M.S., Wine Enthusiast.
The 1996 Hermitage La Chapelle is immensely impressive. The acidity is high. The color is black/purple, and the wine is extremely concentrated, but unevolved and impossible to penetrate. It could turn out like the 1983 and never develop as well as its early promise suggests. Nevertheless, it is a massive effort with extraordinary concentration, but the high acidity requires a minimum of 10 years of cellaring.
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate.
91 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar
Brooding aromas of cassis, spice and woodsmoke, along with port-like notes of chocolate and damp earth. Thick, silky and a bit roasted in the mouth, with chocolate and game flavors. But has the acidity and strong tannic structure for a long, slow evolution in bottle. Very long, chewy finish.
Stephen Tanzer, Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar.
$89.00
TASTING NOTES Ample dark fruits, chocolate, bouquet garni and licorice in its full-bodied, supple, forward...
$89.00
TASTING NOTES Has some reserved, sanguine notes and an essence-like, raspberry core. Some stones and...
$79.00
TASTING NOTES Boasting complex scents of roses, black tea, raspberries and cherries on the nose,...
$99.00
Juicy and spicy, with lots of raspberry ganache and blueberry notes offset by hints of...
