Domaines Paul Jaboulet Aîné - Hermitage Petite Chapelle 2013

Caroline Frey diligently manages this long-standing estate in the valley. The changes she has implemented have never been more successful, both in the vineyard and in the winery. The red wines are clean, refined, and fresh with fruity aromas, while the whites are crisp and sophisticated. At the top of the range is the legendary Hermitage La-Chapelle, a masterful blend of Méal and Bessards, two of the hill’s most famous slopes.

The 2013 Hermitage la Petite Chapelle is more avant-garde and approachable than the grand vin, offering plenty of granite-driven minerality, smoky earth, bouquet garni, and assorted black fruits within its medium- to full-bodied style, which is beautifully concentrated and layered. Made from a blend of vineyard plots and aged for 15–18 months in approximately 20% new French oak, it should age gracefully for 10–15 years.

Founded in 1834, Paul Jaboulet Aîné remained a family-owned business until 2006, when it was acquired by the financial firm Frey. In addition to its wine trading business—which has seen a significant reduction in volume—“PJA” owns the second-largest vineyard estate in Hermitage. Its 25 hectares (21 of red, 4 of white) are located in prime spots in Le Méal, Les Greffieux, Les Dionnières, Les Roucoules, and a few plots in Bessards at the far western edge of the hillside. Until the early 1990s, this institution produced some of the world’s most legendary Syrahs, including La Chapelle, a blend of aged Syrahs. Depending on the vintage, between 30,000 and 80,000 bottles of red La Chapelle are produced. Selection is based on the finesse of the tannins and the wine’s depth. The middle and lower sections of the Méal hillside form the heart of the cuvée. After one year of aging, with 15 to 20% new oak barrels, the less dense lots are set aside and used in La Petite Chapelle (now called Maison Bleue), which should be enjoyed within five to seven years.