Other vintages

The grand vin is the 2012 Hermitage la Chapelle, and it lives up to the billing in 2012. Coming mostly from the Meal and aged in just 20% new French oak, it's a blockbuster that exhibits thrilling, mineral-drenched notes of spiced dark fruits, beef blood, black olive and toast. Full-bodied, deep, layered and incredibly concentrated, it has a stacked mid-palate and enough tannin to warrant another 4-5 years of bottle age. It will have 2-3 decades of overall prime drinking, and certainly evolve for longer.

A heady, expansive bouquet evokes candied black and blue fruits, incense, violet and smoky minerals. Lush, palate-staining cassis and blueberry flavors show excellent clarity and vivacity for their power thanks to juicy acidity and a touch of peppery spices. Closes sweet, sappy, broad and extremely long, with smooth tannins coming on late. 94-96

Very solid, with a loamy frame around a core of fleshy plum, fig and blackberry flavors. A backdrop of licorice root and roasted espresso shows on the finish. A little shy on energy, this exhibits a hefty dose of toast, ample depth of fruit and a good tug of terroir. Best from 2017 through 2024. 200 cases imported.