🏰 The 2017 Hermitage La Chapelle is noted for being reminiscent of the excellent 2009 La Chapelle vintage. This wine displays a deeply pigmented purple-ruby color. The nose offers classic notes of cassis, black olives, mocha, and roasted meat, complemented by hints of baking spices. It also reveals a highly complex array of smoked meat, licorice, cracked pepper, garrigue, blackberry, blueberry, tonka bean, balsam, baking spice, gunflint, and savory wild herbs. On the palate, it is full-bodied, deep, dense, and rich, with a velvety texture and a lingering finish. It's described as having a massive, opulent personality, with full-bodied richness and incredible depth of fruit. The wine is deep and layered, with plush, super-fine tannins supporting flavors that transition from blackberry and bramble to savory spice and smokey notes, finishing with toasted oak. It needs serious air to open up, initially appearing simple but evolving to show elegant notes of crushed stone, pencil shavings, and cassis. 【A serious collectible with three decades of evolution ahead of it, earning 99 points from Wine Access and high praise from other critics, making it an instant collector classic.】 It is considered an "icon" wine, with the name Paul Jaboulet Aîné prominently displayed on the iconic Hermitage Hill. 🥂 This is a monumental wine, perfect for grand celebrations, significant milestones, or as a centerpiece for a fine wine tasting. It is approachable now with decanting but is built to evolve for 40 years or more. 🍴 Food pairing suggestions include Beef Bourguignon, which has been noted as a perfect match. It also pairs exceptionally well with classic meat dishes such as veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, and various roasted, braised, and grilled preparations.