1969 Hermitage La Chapelle

This bottle was starting to dry out and had a distinctly rustic edge to the fruit which was spicy but tending to austerity as the wine stood in the glass. Drying out. (JR)

Dark garnet/plum-colored with significant amber at the edge, this is a solidly made, monolithic, foursquare example with plenty of peppery, cedar, leather, and coffee characteristics in the moderately intense bouquet. A sweet attack is followed by a lean, austere wine with a dry middle. Medium-bodied, the 1969 is a fine La Chapelle that has been mature for more than a decade. It appears to be easily holding onto life. The wine did, however, become more attenuated and drier with the fruit fading as it sat in the glass. Drink it up.