Domaines Paul Jaboulet Aîné La Chapelle Hermitage 2020 Balthazar 12L

Bottled in a majestic 12-litre Balthazar, the 2020 Paul Jaboulet Aîné La Chapelle Hermitage is a modern release of one of the Rhône Valley’s most storied wines. Sourced from the iconic slopes beneath the chapel that gives the cuvée its name, this is a collector’s showpiece as much as it is a serious Hermitage. The 2020 vintage offers a generous, early-drinking expression of La Chapelle, wrapped in the grandeur of an ultra-rare large format perfect for long-term cellaring or truly memorable occasions.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, the 2020 La Chapelle Hermitage shows a deep, opaque ruby core with purple reflections, hinting at its youth and concentration. The nose is complex and layered: cedarwood and pencil shavings mingle with crushed stone and graphite, framing dark, plummy fruit. Notes of mocha, earthy undertones and black olives emerge with air, alongside subtle hints of spice and dried herbs. On the palate, this is full-bodied yet surprisingly open and approachable in its youth. Dark plum and black cherry fruit are underpinned by savoury tones of olive tapenade, cocoa and earth, with a mineral backbone that speaks clearly of Hermitage’s steep granite slopes. The tannins are fine-grained and well-integrated, giving structure without austerity. While the 2020 shows slightly less drive and density than some of the most monumental vintages, in a Balthazar format it still offers impressive aging potential, likely evolving gracefully over 20–30 years, with its most expressive phase beginning after a decade in a proper cellar.

Production
La Chapelle is drawn from some of Hermitage’s finest terroirs, including lieux-dits such as Les Bessards and Le Méal, where old-vine Syrah is rooted in poor, granite-based soils on steep, sun-drenched slopes over the Rhône. All fruit is hand-harvested, parcel by parcel, to ensure optimal ripeness and careful selection. In the cellar, traditional methods meet precise modern winemaking: the grapes are sorted and typically destemmed, then fermented in temperature-controlled vats (cement or stainless steel) to preserve purity of fruit and terroir expression. The wine is then aged in French oak barrels for over a year, with a judicious proportion of new oak, allowing the structure and aromatics to knit together without overpowering the character of the Syrah or the distinctive minerality of Hermitage.

Food & Serving
This grand Hermitage is a superb partner for rich, flavourful dishes: think roast or braised lamb, venison, wild boar, or aged ribeye, as well as duck with dark fruit sauces, and earthy preparations featuring mushrooms, lentils or truffles. Mature hard cheeses such as Comté or aged Gouda also make excellent companions. Serve at 16–18°C (60–64°F); in this youthful 2020 vintage and in such a large format, generous aeration is advisable—decant at least 3–4 hours before serving, and even longer if possible for special dinners, to allow the wine’s layers of fruit, spice and minerality to fully unfold.

Producer
Founded in 1834, Paul Jaboulet Aîné is one of the historic names of the Rhône Valley and a benchmark for Hermitage. La Chapelle, named after the small chapel of Saint-Christophe that crowns the hill, has achieved near-mythic status—most famously with the legendary 1961 vintage—cementing Jaboulet’s reputation worldwide. Since the Frey family took over the estate in 2006, extensive investment in vineyards and cellar, alongside a strong focus on sustainable and increasingly organic and biodynamic practices, have driven a notable renaissance in quality. Today, Jaboulet stands as a reference point in the northern Rhône, with La Chapelle remaining its flagship wine and one of the region’s most collectible Syrah expressions.

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