2022 Hermitage La Chapelle
"...schöne Frucht, fleischig, saftig, Spannung fehlt etwas, mittlerer Körper, feine Bitterschoko, Lakritze im Finale." (07/2024)
Decanter: 93 Punkte
"This has a deep, almost opaque purple colour. It’s ripe on the nose, with notes of damson along with blackberry and a touch of graphite, the oak work is discreet. Medium- to full-bodied, it’s ripe and velvety on the palate then finishes firm and dry with notes of blackcurrant and dark chocolate. The acidity is fairly low, but the wine feels balanced. Remarkably approachable already, this is a relatively compact Hermitage, with very fine, detailed, ripe tannins and good freshness. It’s fruity and medium-bodied rather than hugely powerful, quite light in concentration. Should become Burgundian in style with age. Match with subtle dishes rather than robustly flavoured food. Its gentle concentration and tannic structure suggest medium-term rather than long-term ageing. Grapes were picked between 29 August and 13 September. Most of the blend comes from lieux-dits Les Bessards, Le Méal, Les Greffieux and Les Rocoules (also some parcels on Varogne and Les Grandes Vignes). All destemmed. Sorted on a vibrating table, then by optical sorting machine. Crushed, then fermented one third in stainless steel, the rest in barriques, demi-muids and foudres (15% new oak), then 12 months of elevage. Barrel sample." - Matt Walls (10/2023)
Jane Anson: 98 Punkte
"A wonderful glass of wine, juicy, controlled, restrained, fragrant, enticing. The tannins are cashmere smooth, waves of crushed raspberries and wild strawberries fill the mouth, and this is easy to fall in love with. Fine tannins, blackberry and cranberry fruits, softly sweet while retaining grip and power. 21ha of vines. Caroline Frey owner and winemaker. Gregory Joannes-Hurst director." (07/2024)
2022 La Chapelle Hermitage Blanc le Chevalier de Stérimberg
Decanter: 93 Punkte
"Very pale in colour, with subtle green hints. This is aromatically discreet at the time of tasting, with lime leaf, cedar and tobacco nuances. Light- to medium-bodied for a white Hermitage and really quite approachable, with fairly low acidity and medium length. The alcohol (14%) feels well balanced, the oak work isn’t overt; overall it is well judged. Rather than Hermitage grandeur, this is more about refreshing acidity and subtle salinity. A light white Hermitage in an elegant, drinkable, Burgundian style that will need time to take on weight in bottle, so be sure to wait for a few years after release as it's currently very closed and introverted. Domaine de la Chapelle owns about 5ha of white varieties on mainly loess terroir, two thirds of which is Marsanne, one third Roussanne. The exact blend in 2022 is 87% Marsanne and 13% Roussanne, as it was a difficult year for Roussanne. Harvest dates: 11 to 23 August. Fermented in concrete eggs and demi-muids, 10%-15% new oak, matured for nine months, no malolactic." - Matt Walls (10/2023)
Jane Anson: 97 Punkte
"A stunning vintage to usher in a new chapter for Domaine de la Chapelle. Owner Caroline Frey has made the decision to produce a single Hermitage cuvée from their exceptional terroir, rather than two, as was done for many years during the best vintages, with the tiny production of La Chapelle Blanc in addition to Le Chevalier de Sterimberg. This means that the Maison Blanche plots will now stay in blend every year; the new label reads La Chapelle, Le Chevalier de Sterimberg. The 2022 vintage is gorgeous. Full-bodied and heady with fresh citrus, white nectarines, and acacia honey. Smooth and crisp, with a rich, long, aromatic finish." - Suzanne Desbois (02/2025)
The Drinks Business: 96+ Punkte
"(Hermitage; 87% Marsanne; 13% Rousanne; 14% alcohol). Subtle and restrained; delicate and pure; precise and focussed; and very youthful. This is rather closed and inexpressive for now. But everything’s in the right place. Pink and white flowers. White rose petals. Fennel. Intensely fresh but always subtle on the palate with intriguing slightly exotic notes – jasmine, fresh ginger, white pepper but also a hint of guava and star fruit, even a touch of Chinese 5 spice. Long and shimmering on the finish, though less expressive at this stage than the exceptional 2021." - Colin Hay (03/2025)
