A wine that sells for around $100 a value? Yes when it has the pedigree of La Chapelle and the intensity of this particular wine. The best wine to come from Jaboulet since the awe-inspiring 1990. And yes in these days of newly released $250+ first-growth Bordeaux a value.

The 1997 Hermitage La Chapelle has begun to completely close down which is surprising in view of how sweet seductive and precocious this vintage can be. However the color seems to get deeper with exposure to air (the wine was far more drinkable after 24 hours of aeration than it was upon opening). The moderately intense bouquet exhibits plenty of ripe blackberry and cherry fruit in addition to spicy mineral characteristics. There is considerable weight and volume but the wine is tight and nearly impenetrable leaving an impression of a large deep four-square monolith in need of 7-10 years of cellaring - at the minimum. This is an outstanding Hermitage La Chapelle that will have at least three decades of positive evolution. For readers intent on committing infanticide open and decant it 12-24 hours in advance. The improvement is dramatic. Perhaps it is Jacques Jaboulet's preference to bottle with very high levels of CO2 (1200 ppm) that makes this wine so difficult to taste in its youth. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2025

Pungent, decadent aromas of aged beef, foie gras and dark fruits follow through to a full body with dried-dark-fruit, prune and raisin flavors and hints of pepper. So rich and opulent now with character of earth, dust and hot pebbles in the sun on the finish that holds together this very ripe-styled La Chapelle. Needs drinking now.

This has developed quite nicely over the years. Medium/full bodied, with a nose of licorice, herbs, cherries, smoked meat and cold steel. On the palate the fruit offers a charming rusticity, with an olive, herbal edge to red cherry griotte in the finish. Popped and poured, and as the wine sat in the glass, I knew that was the right choice. Read more at:https://www.thewinecellarinsider.com/wine-tasting-note/?vintage=1997&wine=Paul%20Jaboulet%20Aine%20Hermitage%20La%20Chapelle