2021 Domaine de la Chapelle Le Chevalier de Sterimberg Hermitage Blanc, Northern Rhone

Prior to the vintage 2021, the wine was marketed under the label of Paul Jaboulet Aine, but from 2021 onwards, it is now labeled as Domaine de la Chapelle. 

newly-minted Domaine La Chapelle  in the Northern Rhône:  2021 Hermitage 'La Chapelle'  and  2021 Hermitage  ' Chevalier de Sterimberg' Blanc.   Henri-Gaspard de Sterimberg, was the knight who established himself as a hermit on the hill and built a small chapel, on returning from the Crusades in 1224.    

Fascinating nose that combines notes of white flowers with stone fruit and complex vegetal aromas. Both right and structured, this has a tone of wet stone minerality and wild herb freshness. Long complete finish with a wonderful silky texture. A cuvee of roughly two-thirds marsanne and one-third roussanne. Matured in a combination of concrete eggs and demi-muid oak casks. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.

95 points jamessuckling.com

Winemaker and owner Caroline Frey has brought about a renaissance at these legendary vineyards, previously part of Domaine Paul Jaboulet Aîné . From the 2021 vintage, the wines have been separated from Jaboulet, becoming part of a new estate,  Domaine La Chapelle . This is also the first time they have been distributed through La Place de Bordeaux.    

We offer the new 2021 vintage here en primeur, alongside some library vintages (2013, '11 and '06) cellared in perfect conditions, in Jaboulet's own cellars. We also offer the last of our stocks of 2020 and 2019, just a handful of cases remain of each.

Rhône wine lovers may feel wistful at the separation from Jaboulet, but a look at the photo of the hill of Hermitage, above, puts this move into context. Jaboulet's name is seen on wines from across a large area of ​​the Rhône Valley, including humble Côtes du Rhône. La Chapelle and Chevalier de Sterimberg have more in common with rarer, self-named Burgundy domains associated with a particular terroir, like Domaine des Lambrays .   

Following biodynamic principals, Frey has both improved the vineyards and winemaking here, and at La Lagune, her family's estate in Bordeaux. 2021 was a cool vintage, with severe frosts producing a tiny but high-quality harvest. 

Whether the new direction at Domaine La Chapelle will justify the steep price increases from the Jaboulet era remains to be seen, but committed collectors will wish to have both wines in their cellars.