The 2003 Hermitage la Chapelle is a stunner! From a scorching-hot year that may never be repeated, this behemoth took two months to ferment dry and hit 14.1% natural alcohol. In addition, while in a big year they can produce 80,000 to 90,000 bottles (or more in the case of the 2000), they only made 50,000 bottles of the '03. Locked and loaded with notions of plums, Asian spice, olive tapenade and sweet cassis, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a massive mid-palate and layers of sweet tannin. This blockbuster is guaranteed to put a smile on your face and will drink beautifully for another 15-20 years. - Jeb Dunnuck

Impressive ripeness and intensity with strawberry jam and hints of raisins. But it's floral, intense, meaty and powerful. Nougat. This is full-bodied and chewy with attractive structure and purity for this very hot vintage. A little dry on the finish, but complex and intense. Drink now.

The 2003 Hermitage La Chapelle shows the warmth of the vintage, not in its alcohol, but in its sweet aromatics of plums, black olives, peppered beef, sandalwood, tapenade, and sweet earth-like aromas and flavors. There's certain a kiss of surmaturity here, but the wine is beautifully balanced, medium to full-bodied, has nicely integrated tannins, and a clean, classic Hermitage mineral-laced finish. Fully mature, it has another two decades of longevity, although it's certainly at peak and not getting better.