20 Rene Gabriel
Dunkles Braun, leuchtender Rand. Wunderschön ausladendes, fast fettes Bouquet, viel Schokonoten, Pflaumen, Sandelholz, Jasmintee, frische Küchenkräuter, Thymian und Rosmarin, blühende Kapernsträucher, süsses Terroir, Moschus, Arabica-Kaffee, Wildleder, ähnelt einem reifen Cheval-Blanc, geniales gereiftes, perfektes Rhônebouquet. Im Gaumen bewegend vom ersten Moment an, reife Tannine die aber den wohl geformten Körper immer noch stützen, Korinthen, Lakritze und Teernoten, Havannatabak, dezente Trockenheit im hoch aromatischen Finale, noch immer ein legendärer, grosser Hermitage, der sicherlich eine Art Messlatte darstellt und zu den schier unerreichten Legenden gehört. 20/20 austrinken
100 Robert Parker
This is unquestionably one of the greatest wines made in the twentieth century. In the two dozen tastings where I have had the 1961 La Chapelle, I rated it 100 points twenty times. The opaque purple/garnet color is accompanied by spectacular aromatics representing the essence of old vine Syrah (smoked meat, pepper, hoisin sauce, and soy).
As the wine sits in the glass, notions of pepper, new saddle leather, grilled meat, and awesome levels of blackberry, plum, and black currant liqueur-like notes emerge. Extremely unctuous, with compelling concentration and purity, this full-bodied, seamless, mouthfilling 1961 is truly immortal. It still possesses a freshness and vigor that defy its nearly forty years of age. It should continue to drink well for two more decades. Prodigious stuff!
100 Wine Spectator
Always 100 points, still 100 points. From a vintage with a minuscule crop and great summer weather through the end of the harvest. Dark at the core, it lightens at the edge to the color of prune juice. Full-bodied, it lays thick on the palate, with loads of ripe berry, plum, mineral and game layers. Intense and harmonious. Should hold for years.--La Chapelle vertical. Drink now through 2025. ?PM
100 Robert Parker
This is unquestionably one of the greatest wines made in the twentieth century. In the two dozen tastings where I have had the 1961 La Chapelle, I rated it 100 points twenty times. The opaque purple/garnet color is accompanied by spectacular aromatics representing the essence of old vine Syrah (smoked meat, pepper, hoisin sauce, and soy).
As the wine sits in the glass, notions of pepper, new saddle leather, grilled meat, and awesome levels of blackberry, plum, and black currant liqueur-like notes emerge. Extremely unctuous, with compelling concentration and purity, this full-bodied, seamless, mouthfilling 1961 is truly immortal. It still possesses a freshness and vigor that defy its nearly forty years of age. It should continue to drink well for two more decades. Prodigious stuff!
100 Wine Spectator
Always 100 points, still 100 points. From a vintage with a minuscule crop and great summer weather through the end of the harvest. Dark at the core, it lightens at the edge to the color of prune juice. Full-bodied, it lays thick on the palate, with loads of ripe berry, plum, mineral and game layers. Intense and harmonious. Should hold for years.--La Chapelle vertical. Drink now through 2025. ?PM
20 Rene Gabriel
Dunkles Braun, leuchtender Rand. Wunderschön ausladendes, fast fettes Bouquet, viel Schokonoten, Pflaumen, Sandelholz, Jasmintee, frische Küchenkräuter, Thymian und Rosmarin, blühende Kapernsträucher, süsses Terroir, Moschus, Arabica-Kaffee, Wildleder, ähnelt einem reifen Cheval-Blanc, geniales gereiftes, perfektes Rhônebouquet. Im Gaumen bewegend vom ersten Moment an, reife Tannine die aber den wohl geformten Körper immer noch stützen, Korinthen, Lakritze und Teernoten, Havannatabak, dezente Trockenheit im hoch aromatischen Finale, noch immer ein legendärer, grosser Hermitage, der sicherlich eine Art Messlatte darstellt und zu den schier unerreichten Legenden gehört. 20/20 austrinken
