Paul Jaboulet Aine, Hermitage, La Chapelle Rouge 2015

Pure perfection in red wine, and as good a La Chapelle as has ever been made, the 2015 Hermitage La Chapelle reveals a deep, inky purple color as well as a mammoth-sized bouquet of black and blue fruits, liquid rock-like minerality, smoked game, ground pepper, and iron. Reminding me of the 1978 with its rare mix of power and elegance, this brilliant, sensational Hermitage already offers pleasure and will evolve for another 30-40 years.

Drink 2022 - 2062

The 2015 Hermitage La Chapelle is one of the estate’s finest recent efforts. It’s packed with firm tannins and will need to be lost in the cellar for a decade, but it will reward those with patience. Richly concentrated and full-bodied, it hits all the expected notes—cassis, black olive, smoke, crushed stone, pencil shavings and espresso—then finishes long, with an aristocratic sense of reserve and austerity. Winemaker Jacques Devernois compares it to a woman’s black dress, meaning it speaks of elegance and class.

Drink 2027 - 2050

Bright purple. Explosive, smoke- and spice-accented blueberry, cherry cola, incense and smoky mineral aromas show outstanding delineation and pick up a hint of olive with aeration. Sweet and expansive on the palate, offering deeply concentrated dark berry liqueur, fruitcake and floral pastille flavors, along with a suggestion of star anise. The remarkably long, penetrating finish features strong minerally cut, an echo of sweet blue fruit and harmonious tannins that come in late and fold effortlessly into the deeply concentrated fruit. At this stage, this is a contender for the wine of the vintage, at least by estimation.

Drink 2028 - 2040

A majestic and brooding nose with dark stone fruits, wet black stones, pepper and brown spices as well as some dark chocolate and meaty notes, and fresh truffle-like earthiness, too. The palate draws deep and even with effortless power. Seamless. Extremely focused and long fine tannins. Hints of high cocoa chocolate. The acidity is stunning. This is flawless Hermitage.

Drink 2023

The medium- to full-bodied 2015 Hermitage La Chapelle unwinds with expressive rose petal, crushed violets, black pepper, licorice and ripe blackberry. Wafts of graphite, cedar and tobacco add more layers. Polished tannins neatly frame this concentrated La Chapelle that demands at least four more years in bottle.

Drink 2028 - 2035

Immediately showing plenty of dark fruit, it edges towards overripeness but doesn't quite go that far. There's also a degree of meatiness to the aromatics. Full-bodied, with a really sunny feel, you sense the heat of the vintage and the alcohol feels a little raised. With fine tannins, it will be ready relatively soon and is unlikely to age as long as the 2016. Quite thick, leathery and lush tannins, all very ripe, and plenty of them - this cries out for red meat in quantity.

Drink 2024 - 2041