Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle 1990

100/100 PP

"The 1990 La Chapelle is monumental. It is almost black in color. Tasted several times in 1996 along with the 1989, 1988, 1983, and 1978, it was easily the most intense and complete wine of the group. The finest La Chapelle made since the 1961 and 1959, it is even richer, deeper, and more highly extracted than the perfect 1978. The percentage of new oak was increased to 50% because of the wine\'s power. The maceration period lasted an amazing 44 days. While Jaboulet experimented with prebottling filtration during the mid-eighties, this wine was put in the bottle with no processing. The huge nose of pepper, underbrush, and black fruits displays amazing intensity. In the mouth the wine has awesome concentration, extraordinary balance and power, and a fabulously long, huge finish that lasts for more than a minute. The tannins are considerable, but the prodigious quantities of sweet fruit and multidimensional, layered feel to the wine make it one of the most incredible young red wines I have ever tasted. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2040+."
(Robert M. Parker, Jr., robertparker.com)

100/100 PP

"The 1990 La Chapelle is the sexy and opulent. I had the 1990 at the Jaboulet tasting, and again out of a double magnum three months ago. On both occasions it was spectacular, clearly meriting a three-digit score. The modern day equivalent of the 1961, it deserves all the attention it has garnered.
The color remains an opaque purple, with only a slight pink at the edge. Spectacular aromatics offer up aromas of incense, smoke, blackberry fruit, cassis, barbecue spice, coffee, and a touch of chocolate. As it sits in the glass, additional nuances of pepper and grilled steak emerge. There is extraordinary freshness for such a mammoth wine in addition to abundant tannin, an amazing 60-second finish, and a level of glycerin and thick, fleshy texture that have to be tasted to be believed.
Despite its youthfulness, the 1990 La Chapelle is lovely to drink, although it will be even better with another 5-6 years of cellaring; it should age for 35-40+ years. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2050+."
(Robert M. Parker, Jr., robertparker.com)

100/100 Jeb Dunnuck

"The 1990 Hermitage La Chapelle lived up to its reputation on this occasion, and of the three titans (1990, 1978 and 1961), it was probably my favorite. Still inky colored and ruby at the rim, it offers an absolutely profound bouquet of sweet cassis, smoked meats, chocolate, licorice and spice. This is followed by a full-bodied, insanely textured, pure and hedonistic palate that has that perfect mix of still-vibrant fruit and ample secondary nuances. I suspect the \'61 was even richer at this stage, but the overall purity and freshness here are incredible. It will continue to evolve for decades, but I\'d happily open bottles today. Drink now-2040."
(Jeb Dunnuck, jebdunnuck.com)

100/100 WT

"Präsentierte sich 2011 auf der Braui meets Schorn II in Farbe und Aromatik als extrem junger, extrem konzentrierter und extrem dichter Wein, ein irres Teil, das mit fantastischer Frucht richtiggehend am Gaumen knallte und ewig haften blieb, und bei dem man das kaum vorstellbare Gefühl hat, dass da noch mehr kommt, deshalb hier vorsichtige 99+/100. Als kompletter, großer, aber immer noch sehr junger Wein der Star von Uwe Bendes Hermitage-Probe 2013 in Bochum – 100/100. 2013 aus der 1tel und aus der Magnum jeweils ein irres, junges konzentriertes Mörderteil, schlichtweg atemberaubend – WT100. 2015 mehrfach aus der 1tel perfekt (konstant WT100), aus der Magnum ein so extrem junger, extrem konzentrierter und extrem dichter Wein – WT99+. Perfektion mit explosiver Aromatik auch 2016 wieder sowohl aus der 1tel als auch aus der Magnum – WT100."
(Achim Becker, wineterminator.com)