Live Auction 7837Finest and Rarest Wines Including a Superb Collection of Rare Burgundy
Christie’s roundel
Lot 107 EXTREMELY RARE HERMITAGE LA CHAPELLE 1961

The mythical Hermitage 'La Chapelle', a 'Grand Vin' produced from Syrah, takes its name from the little Chapel 'Saint Christophe', which overlooks the vineyards of Hermitage. 'La Chapelle' which has been part of the property of Maison Paul Jaboulet Aîné since 1919, comes from a blending of the best parcels of the Hermitage appellation from vineyards such as Méal and Bessards. Remington Norman writing in Rhône Renaissance stated that "La Chapelle is one of the world's greatest wines, with the concentration and structure for long ageing in great vintages such as 1961, 1966, 1978, 1983 and 1990. Here, 20 years cellaring brings out riches which are barely discernable in the dense, tightly-knit, tannic young Syrah. Sadly, unlike Bordeaux, where a deep purse will secure almost any vintage one could wish for, older vintages of La Chapelle or, indeed other great Rhônes are virtually unobtainable. The only answer is to buy young and wait.". Fortunately Christie's are delighted to be able to offer 12 bottles of this world-famous and hard to find 1961 vintage; surely an opportunity not to be missed!

Hermitage, La Chapelle--Vintage 1961

Closed10 June 2010

Price Realised

GBP 69,000

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Hermitage, La Chapelle--Vintage 1961
Rhône. Domaine-bottled: Paul Jaboulet Aîné
Good capsules, one slightly depressed cork. Bin-soiled labels. Levels: four 1cm, four 1.5cms, two 2cms, one 2.5cms, one 3cms below corks
Tasting note: "This is unquestionably one of the greatest wines made in the twentieth century. In the two dozen tastings where I have had the 1961 La Chapelle, I rated it 100 points twenty times. The opaque purple/garnet colour is accompanied by spectacular aromatics representing the essence of old vine Syrah (smoked meat, pepper, hoisin sauce, and soy). As the wine sits in the glass, notions of pepper, new saddle leather, grilled meat, and awesome levels of blackberry, plum, and blackcurrant liqueur-like notes emerge. Extremely unctuous, with compelling concentration and purity, this full-bodied, seamless, mouthfilling 1961 is truly immortal. It still possesses a freshness and vigour that defy its nearly forty years of age. It should continue to drink well for two more decades. Prodigious stuff! 100 Points, Robert Parker, Wine Advocate 129, June 2000.
12 bottles per lot