# Hermitage La Chapelle (2019)

- **Producer:** Paul Jaboulet Aîné
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Syrah
- **Region:** Northern Rhône, France
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 15.5%
- **Average price:** €210
- **Contains sulphites:** No
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 16–20 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** black plum, black cherry, liquorice, blackcurrant, black pepper, blueberry, cloves, vanilla, coffee, smoke, chocolate, earth, leather, game, mocha

## About this wine

Paul Jaboulet Hermitage La Chapelle 2019 is a distinguished red wine from the Northern Rhône appellation of Hermitage, produced by Paul Jaboulet Aîné. It is a 100% Syrah wine, representing the prestigious terroir of the Hermitage hill. The estate has a long-standing history, now managed by the Frey family, who are implementing sustainable farming methods. The wine's distinctiveness lies in its powerful expression of the Hermitage terroir and its significant aging potential.

## Interesting facts

- La Chapelle is named after a small 13th-century chapel on the Hermitage hill.
- The average age of the vines for La Chapelle is 40 years, with some exceeding 100.
- The estate is in conversion to organic and biodynamic farming practices.
- This wine is celebrated for its remarkable ability to age for decades.

## Food pairing

The wine's full body and substantial tannins are well-suited to rich, protein-heavy dishes, where they can be softened by the food's fat and protein. The dark fruit and savory notes in the wine complement game meats and earthy flavors like mushrooms.

## Wine making process

The winemaking process for Paul Jaboulet Hermitage La Chapelle 2019 involves traditional techniques. Grapes are hand-harvested and sorted. Fermentation occurs with indigenous yeasts for about 10 days at temperatures between 22–28 °C, using gentle punching down and pumping over. Post-fermentation maceration lasts around 2 weeks. The wine is then aged for 12 months, with 20% in new French oak barrels and the rest in concrete egg-shaped vats.