1983 Hermitage La Chapelle
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Tasting notes
From Kate Dugdale's cellar. A difficult vintage in the Rhône with a lot of rot and not much juice in the berries. Not open on the nose but, as it breathes, there's still some senescent fruit aroma and much more depth of fruit on the palate. Savoury, meaty, still chewy. Tannins seem to be winning the race. The Wine Society bottling was more obdurate and drier on the finish. (JH)
Critic scores
Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
The 1983 Hermitage La Chapelle has never impressed and is lean, hard, and charmless. There's some smoky, meaty Hermitage character, but this is certainly best drunk up.
Notes of menthol, charcuterie, olives and dried spices make up the bulk of the bouquet of the 1983 Hermitage La Chapelle, yet it's skinny, lean and tannic on the palate, with just enough texture and depth to keep it enjoyable. Drink up.
This is autumn in the glass, with wet-leaf, fresh-mushroom, smoke and dried-meat character. Orange peel, dark fruits, and game pâté. Full body with incredible depth, length, ripe fruit and intensity. It goes on for minutes. Stunning finish. It is so rich, decadent and intense, but fresh and long. It defines greatness. It defines what hermitage was, is and should be.