94 Wine Spectator
At age 40, this is holding up beautifully despite a large crop. What impresses is the sweet fruit layered thick on the midpalate, delivering plum, vanilla, brown sugar, smoke and leather notes. The tannins melt, and the finale is still fresh and balanced. A delight to taste.--La Chapelle vertical. Drink now through 2005. –PM
94 Wine Spectator
At age 40, this is holding up beautifully despite a large crop. What impresses is the sweet fruit layered thick on the midpalate, delivering plum, vanilla, brown sugar, smoke and leather notes. The tannins melt, and the finale is still fresh and balanced. A delight to taste.--La Chapelle vertical. Drink now through 2005. –PM
90 Robert Parker
I have had a half-dozen bottles of 1959 La Chapelle, and have always rated it in the upper nineties. At the Jaboulet tasting, it appeared to be more evolved, with a saturated garnet color, and a big, cedary, meaty, dried herb-scented bouquet with abundant smoke and spice. In the mouth, alcohol was burning its way through the flavors, and one could clearly see this wine was the product of an extremely hot, sunny year.
90 Robert Parker
I have had a half-dozen bottles of 1959 La Chapelle, and have always rated it in the upper nineties. At the Jaboulet tasting, it appeared to be more evolved, with a saturated garnet color, and a big, cedary, meaty, dried herb-scented bouquet with abundant smoke and spice. In the mouth, alcohol was burning its way through the flavors, and one could clearly see this wine was the product of an extremely hot, sunny year.