WineSpectator Review:
What a great wine. Fullbodied, with crushed berry, smoke and grilled aromas, all presented quite subtly. Stands out for its natural, downtoearth taste of clean, pure, shining fruit. A pleasure to drink. Tempting now. Best from 2003 through 2015.
Parker Review:
This estates flagship wine, Hermitage La Chapelle, merits its worldrenowned reputation. The outstanding, elegant 1998 Hermitage La Chapelles dark plum/purple color is followed by scents of new saddle leather, black currants, blackberries, and underbrush. In the mouth, the wine reveals sweet tannin, medium to full body, excellent depth, and an intriguing smokiness.
Tanzer Review:
Redruby. Expressive nose combines currant, roast coffee, chicory, underbrush and smoke. Suave yet penetrating in the mouth, with complex flavors of redcurrant, iron, minerals, smoke and tobacco. Finishes with dusty tannins and excellent length, though there still some acidity to be absorbed. This is showing well now, though its slightly more advanced aromatics suggest it will not be as longlived as the 99.
