Hermitage Petite Chapelle 2011 - Domaine Jaboulet

Hermitage La Petite Chapelle 2011 — Domaine Paul Jaboulet Aîné

This Hermitage La Petite Chapelle 2011 from Domaine Paul Jaboulet Aîné offers a more accessible and supple expression of red Hermitage than the mythical La Chapelle cuvée. Made from Syrah, it retains the deep identity of the Hermitage hill while showing a more open, spicy profile that is now beautifully enjoyable at maturity.

The 2011 vintage gives here a wine with fine evolution, combining softened dark fruit, liquorice, spice, smoky notes, blond tobacco and more tertiary nuances. Less massive than major cellaring vintages such as 2009, 2010 or 2015, it now seduces through its balance, aromatic patina and gastronomic character.

Terroir: the accessible elegance of Hermitage

La Petite Chapelle belongs to the world of great red Hermitage wines, with a more immediate expression than the estate’s emblematic grand cuvée. Syrah expresses here the noble character of the hill: dark fruits, spice, smoky notes, mineral depth and serious structure, but in a more supple and approachable register.

In the 2011 vintage, the wine has gained harmony and complexity. The tannins have softened, the fruit has developed a gentle patina and mature aromas are beginning to enrich the whole. Progressive opening is recommended in order to preserve the balance between fruit, tertiary notes and the mineral frame typical of Hermitage.

Tasting notes

Expression of the 2011 vintage

The 2011 vintage gives La Petite Chapelle a more supple and accessible expression than the highly structured great vintages of the decade. After more than ten years of evolution, the wine is beginning to show fine mature complexity without losing the depth that defines Hermitage. It can be served today after gentle aeration, avoiding prolonged decanting in order to preserve its aromatic finesse.