Winespectator (93)
A refined, elegant version that's poised and aromatically expressive, showing bold black raspberry and brambly red berry details, with white pepper and floral high tones. Shy at first, this emerges with time in glass, revealing textural purity and notes of toasted aniseed, cigar box and rosemary, all held in place by a firm spine of iron and polished tannins. This will stand the test of time in the cellar.
Jancis Robinson (15.50)
NB name change from this vintage (no longer Paul Jaboulet Aîné). 100% Syrah. Harvested 26 September to 7 October. Cool and wet vintage. Alcoholic fermentation for around 10 days at 22–28 °C, with yeasts indigenous to the northern Rhône, with gentle punching down and pumping over. Post-fermentation maceration for around 2 weeks then ageing for 12 months in French oak barrels (15% new) and concrete eggs.
The fruit is slightly muddled on the nose at this stage, masked by stubborn reduction that is unpleasantly sulphurous – one hopes this will fade with bottle age. The palate shows delicate but candied notes of red fruit. Tangy, with a sweet profile oddly reminiscent of Grenache rather than Syrah. The structure is fine, with lightly sandy tannins and pristine, vibrant acids. Hopefully just in an awkward stage.
Vinous (92)
2021 is the first vintage where the Hermitage La Chapelle is labelled as Domaine de la Chapelle instead of Paul Jaboulet Aîné. As is customary, it blends grapes from various lieux-dits (mainly Le Méal and Les Bessards, with small additions of Les Greffieux and Les Rocoules). The 2021 unwinds with precise violet, rose petal and black cherry. Cedar and spice undertones add more layers. Hitting the palate with moderate flavor concentration, this is a rather delicate rendition of this cuvée. It delivers excellent freshness on the focused finish and should drink well over the next decade.
Jeb Dunnuck (92)
The flagship 2021 Hermitage La Chapelle (which is now released under the "Domaine de la Chapelle" label) was vinified in stainless steel and aged in 15% new barrels, with 10% in concrete eggs. It has an almost Côte Rôtie-like elegance and has perfumed aromatics of red and blue fruits, peppery herbs, smoke, and sappy, minty herbs. Medium-bodied and nicely balanced, with fine-grained tannins, it has solid underlying depth and structure, and warrants 4-5 years of bottle age. It will have 15+ years of prime drinking.
