Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle 2015

100 points and 'Top 50 Red Wine of 2018 (#37),' Jeb Dunnuck: "Lastly, and a legendary wine in the making, the 2015 Hermitage La Chapelle is reminiscent of the 1990 with its full-bodied, opulently, sexy, yet concentrated style. Offering sensational notes of blackcurrants, smoked herbs, beef blood, and chocolate, it’s a huge yet elegant wine that has masses of sweet tannin, incredible purity and finesse, and a killer finish. It’s the finest wine from this estate in close to 30 years. Hats off to Caroline Fray and Jacques Desvernois! Drink: 2026-2066. (1/24/18)"

100 points Jeff Leve (The Wine Cellar Insider): "So inky and unfathomably profound in shade, this wine may stain your stemware as well as your palate with its caliginous hue. With a decanter filled with crème de cassis, this full bodied, concentrated dream liquid fills your mouth and coats your palate while mesmerizing your senses for at least 60 seconds. The fruit bestows purity, intensity, length and precision. In its youth, it's intellectual; when it matures, it will be a hedonistic coup d’état. Is this the best vintage since 1990 or perhaps 1978? Yes! This is off the charts. If you you have the money, this is a wine to lay down. Once other people begin tasting this wine, and word gets out, it is only going to become more expensive. (Apr 2018)"

98 points Joe Czerwinski (Wine Advocate): "The 2015 Hermitage La Chapelle is one of the estate’s finest recent efforts. It’s packed with firm tannins and will need to be lost in the cellar for a decade, but it will reward those with patience. Richly concentrated and full-bodied, it hits all the expected notes--cassis, black olive, smoke, crushed stone, pencil shavings and espresso--then finishes long, with an aristocratic sense of reserve and austerity. Winemaker Jacques Devernois compares it to a woman’s black dress, meaning it speaks of elegance and class. Drink: 2027-2050. (Dec 2017)"

98 points Josh Raynolds (Vinous): "(20% new oak):Bright purple. Explosive, smoke- and spice-accented blueberry, cherry cola, incense and smoky mineral aromas show outstanding delineation and pick up a hint of olive with aeration. Sweet and expansive on the palate, offering deeply concentrated dark berry liqueur, fruitcake and floral pastille flavors, along with a suggestion of star anise. The remarkably long, penetrating finish features strong minerally cut, an echo of sweet blue fruit and harmonious tannins that come in late and fold effortlessly into the deeply concentrated fruit. At this stage, this is a contender for the wine of the vintage, at least by estimation. Drink: 2028-2040. (Apr 2018)"

97 points James Suckling: "A majestic and brooding nose with dark stone fruits, wet black stones, pepper and brown spices as well as some dark chocolate and meaty notes, and fresh truffle-like earthiness, too. The palate draws deep and even with effortless power. Seamless. Extremely focused and long fine tannins. Hints of high cocoa chocolate. The acidity is stunning. This is flawless Hermitage. Drink 2023 and beyond. (1/7/18)"

96 points Tim Atkin, MW: "100% Syrah. Lieux-dits Le Méal, Les Bessards, Les Rocoules, aged for 15-18 months in barriques, 20% new. Gently resinous nose, with damson, black plum and ripe blackberry. Very ripe, intense, with a swathe of mouthcoating ripe tannin and inky fruit. Good sense of harmony and a straight style that finishes long. The overall impression is impressive; great harmony, power and freshness combine to create the best La Chapelle in a long time. 2025-2040."

95 points Matt Walls (Decanter): " Immediately showing plenty of dark fruit, it edges towards overripeness but doesn't quite go that far. There's also a degree of meatiness to the aromatics. Full-bodied, with a really sunny feel, you sense the heat of the vintage and the alcohol feels a little raised. With fine tannins, it will be ready relatively soon and is unlikely to age as long as the 2016. Quite thick, leathery and lush tannins, all very ripe, and plenty of them - this cries out for red meat in quantity. Drinking Window 2024-2041. (Mar 2020)"