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

Certainly fully mature, the 1996 Hermitage La Chapelle offers a pretty, feminine, cooler climate style with high acidity yet still shows solid sweetness of fruit as well as concentration. Giving up lots of darker berry fruits as well as classic La Chapelle sweet herbs, smoked meats, saddle leather, and bacon fat, it hits the palate with medium-bodied richness, high yet still integrated acidity, beautiful balance, and outstanding length. A wine that needs 30-60 minutes in a decanter as it gains richness and depth with air, it's drinking at point today, with no upside, yet should hold nicely for another decade if properly stored. The 1991 certainly has a little more opulence, while the 1996 is defined by its acidity.

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</P>