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)
