Northern Rhône 2020

Jaboulet’s Hermitage La Chapelle is a wine of legendary status, with a great legacy of past vintages. For many, it is the defining wine of the Hermitage hill. It comes from a blend of parcels, and takes its name from the small hermit’s chapel that sits at the western end of the hill, with a commanding view of the appellation and the town of Tain-l’Hermitage and the Rhône River below. It’s a pilgrimage spot for any wine lover visiting the region. The 2020 is, of course, a big, powerful, tannic, structured wine, as we have come to expect from this wine. Yet it is also restrained and layered on the palate, and displays a red-fruit detail and elegance that really mark it out as special. This should age for many years (decades) to come.

Les Reynards is a steep granitic site in Cornas, celebrated for its superb wines. 2020 is the first vintage Jaboulet has bottled this separately in recognition of the balance and quality of the Reynard site.

This was first bottled separately in 2009, which continues to prove a popular decision. The vines lie in the heart of the Saint-Joseph appellation just above Tournon and Mauves, on steep granitic slopes. Black-fruited and peppery, with a silky structure and full, energetic length.