critic reviews
Broth, soy, blackberry, raspberry, cumin, freshly cut herbs, garrigue, cinnamon, incense, grilled campfire, ash. Maintains a clear tannic structure, subtle but persistent. This was a wonderful vintage across France, warm with a lot of sunshine but without extremes of temperature. The roots at La Chapelle go deep, giving a resistance to drought or excess heat, and this is a supremely successful wine that is in a sweet spot. The last year with Jaboulet family as owners, before the Freys bought in 2006.
Inky purple. Spicy dark berry and violet aromas build and expand with air, picking up suave mineral and sassafras character. Fleshy dark berry preserve flavors are complemented by zesty graphite and succulent herbs, finishing with superb depth and sweetness. Great material here, and I'll bet that this will please drinkers not long after its release, unlike most wines from this vintage.