94 James Suckling
This is so perfumed with strawberry, spices, meat and light earth. Then changes to cloves, dried flowers such as violets, and perfume. Full body with super-fine tannins, almond, berry, light spice and hints of lightly grilled meat. A wonderful, satisfying wine that's all about balance and refinement. Just beginning to open now.
92 Wine Spectator
Sleek and primal now, with a beam of glistening raspberry and red currant fruit running over well-integrated iron, black tea and roasted vanilla bean notes. Stays well-focused on the finish. Drink now through 2014. JM
92 Wine Spectator
Sleek and primal now, with a beam of glistening raspberry and red currant fruit running over well-integrated iron, black tea and roasted vanilla bean notes. Stays well-focused on the finish. Drink now through 2014. JM
90 Robert Parker
The 2007 Hermitage La Chapelle is a pretty, dark ruby/plum-colored effort displaying aromas of camphor, loamy soil, pepper, herbs and red and black fruits. Medium to full-bodied, soft, round and expansive, it is an endearing Hermitage to enjoy over the next decade. The dramatic differences between the 2007 and 2009 are remarkable when these two wines are tasted side by side. <br/><br/>It did not take long for Caroline Frey to whip this somewhat rudderless (following the death of Gerard Jaboulet in the late 1990s) estate into shape. The first few years were transitionary ones, but in 2009 she was aided by what is an exceptional vintage in the Northern Rhone as well as low yields at Jaboulet (20 hectoliters per hectare at Les Bessards and 25 hectoliters per hectare at Le Meal). The result is the greatest vintage at Jaboulet since 1990. Moreover, it is clear they have moved away from a large negociant operation to estate-bottled domaine wines, which all of the following represent. If you have been off the Jaboulet bandwagon over the last decade or so, now is the time to jump back on for both whites and reds. They still own just under 300 acres spread throughout the Rhone Valley, with their biggest holdings 52 acres in Hermitage and 112+ acres at their Domaine de Thalabert in Crozes-Hermitage. As I have indicated before, the Frey family has instituted a strict selection process in order to cull out the finest lots for their flagship wine - Hermitage La Chapelle. Production used to be 8,000-10,000 cases, but for the 2009 Hermitage La Chapelle, which will be the greatest La Chapelle since 1990 and 1978, there are only 2,000 cases. The white wines have jumped considerably in quality. Most are now put through 100% malolactic.<br/>
90 Robert Parker
The 2007 Hermitage La Chapelle is a pretty, dark ruby/plum-colored effort displaying aromas of camphor, loamy soil, pepper, herbs and red and black fruits. Medium to full-bodied, soft, round and expansive, it is an endearing Hermitage to enjoy over the next decade. The dramatic differences between the 2007 and 2009 are remarkable when these two wines are tasted side by side.
It did not take long for Caroline Frey to whip this somewhat rudderless (following the death of Gerard Jaboulet in the late 1990s) estate into shape. The first few years were transitionary ones, but in 2009 she was aided by what is an exceptional vintage in the Northern Rhone as well as low yields at Jaboulet (20 hectoliters per hectare at Les Bessards and 25 hectoliters per hectare at Le Meal). The result is the greatest vintage at Jaboulet since 1990. Moreover, it is clear they have moved away from a large negociant operation to estate-bottled domaine wines, which all of the following represent. If you have been off the Jaboulet bandwagon over the last decade or so, now is the time to jump back on for both whites and reds. They still own just under 300 acres spread throughout the Rhone Valley, with their biggest holdings 52 acres in Hermitage and 112+ acres at their Domaine de Thalabert in Crozes-Hermitage. As I have indicated before, the Frey family has instituted a strict selection process in order to cull out the finest lots for their flagship wine - Hermitage La Chapelle. Production used to be 8,000-10,000 cases, but for the 2009 Hermitage La Chapelle, which will be the greatest La Chapelle since 1990 and 1978, there are only 2,000 cases. The white wines have jumped considerably in quality. Most are now put through 100% malolactic.
