Paul Jaboulet Aîné La Chapelle 2004

The 2004 Hermitage La Chapelle showed nicely, with the more medium-bodied, higher acid style of the vintage, yet it still has good sweetness of fruit, supple tannins, and lots of classic Northern Rhône character. Mature currant fruits, some sappy, peppery, meaty, subtly gamey notes as well as that textbook La Chapelle hint of soy all show on the nose, and it's medium-bodied, mid-weight, balanced, and elegant on the palate. It's a charmer, yet clearly a step up from the 1998, 1999, and 2000.

Deep, saturated ruby. Pungent, spicy aromas of cassis, blackberry, leather, tobacco and green Chartreuse. Very rich, dense and chewy, offering a powerful dark fruit and wild game character complicated by tobacco and licorice root. As sweet and lush as this is, it's solidly framed by powerful tannins. This has serious extract and impressive muscle, finishing on a note of hot asphalt.

Also blended by the new winemaker, Caroline Frey, the 2004 Hermitage la Chapelle offers plenty of spice, currants, sweet cherry, leather and a hint of mint in its medium-bodied, elegant, soft and approachable style. Drink up.