Jaboulet Hermitage La Chapelle 1995

Jaboulet Hermitage La Chapelle is a northern Rhone Syrah from Domaine Paul Jaboulet Aine, a house founded in 1834 and now owned by the Frey family, working around a hundred hectares across Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage, Cornas and other appellations. This is a mature bottle, and after three decades the wine has moved well beyond its primary fruit into the savoury, developed character that ageing Syrah is prized for. Syrah from these steep granite slopes ripens fully in the warm Rhone climate while keeping the pepper and structure the variety is known for. Long barrel ageing in the cellar and many years in bottle have softened the tannins and drawn out complex tertiary flavours. Expect a garnet colour showing bricking at the rim, a nose of dried plum, leather, smoke, black pepper and tobacco, and a palate that is soft and resolved, with gentle tannins, savoury depth and a long earthy finish. As a wine of this age it should be handled gently. Stand it upright for a day, then decant carefully off any sediment and serve at 17 degrees. It suits roast beef, lamb and game.