Domaines Paul Jaboulet Aîné La Chapelle Hermitage Blanc 2020

The 2020 Hermitage la Chapelle Blanc (last bottled in 2014) comes entirely from the Maison Blanche lieu-dit and is 100% Marsanne. Like the other Jaboulet whites from 2020, it's on the leaner side, with pear and citrus enriched by some leesy character. Medium-bodied, it's long and elegant, even if it's a significant departure in style from most examples of Hermitage Blanc. With it's higher-than-normal acid levels and crisper feel, it's conceivable that I've underrated it as a young wine and that it will blossom in time.

By Joe Czerwinski January 2022