1996 Paul Jaboulet Aîné "La Chapelle" Hermitage (stained & scuffed label)

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 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. (RP)