92 points,

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, June 2000

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. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2025

92 points,

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, October 1999

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 is a massive effort with extraordinary concentration, but the high acidity requires a minimum of 10 years of cellaring.

92 points,

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, February 1999

The profound 1996 Hermitage La Chapelle is a saturated black/purple-color. It exhibits a broodingly backward nose of minerals, cassis, and spices. Full-bodied, with sweet tannin, black fruits galore, admirable structure, and considerable complexity, this backward, thick La Chapelle possesses good acidity (but not intrusive). Anticipated maturity: 2007-2030. Importer: Frederick Wildman, New York, NY; tel. (212) 355-0700

91 -92 points,

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, October 1997

Jacques Jaboulet believes that 1996 was a better year for this firm than 1995. The renowned Hermitage La Chapelle, is a superb wine in both 1996 and 1995. I have a slight preference for the 1996 Hermitage La Chapelle because it tastes richer, and it is longer. The 1996 needs 10-12 years of cellaring. The color is a dense black/purple, and the wine offers up tight but promising aromas of cassis, pepper, minerals, and soy sauce-like scents. Extremely backward, with immense body, a chewy texture, and mouthsearing levels of acidity and tannin, this should turn out to be an outstanding La Chapelle, but don't think about enjoying a bottle before 2008. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2030. Importer: Frederick Wildman, New York, NY; tel. (212) 355-0700

91 points,

Stephen Tanzer's IWC, January 1999

Saturated ruby-red. 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. Still in a rather oxidative phase, as this wine often is in the year or two following the bottling. But has the acidity and strong tannic structure for a long, slow evolution in bottle. Very long, chewy finish.

94 points,

Wine Spectator, December 1999

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.--La Chapelle vertical. Best from 2003 through 2015. –PM

About Winery

For almost two centuries, the Jaboulet family has shared a common passion for the Rhône Valley, its history, its terroir, its exceptional people and wines. The enduring quality of their wines is a result of the high esteem in which they hold their people and vines and the arts of vinification, blending and maturing.

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