The hors Bordeaux campaign on La Place is gathering steam with the release of Hermitage La Chapelle, Clos Apalta, Klein Constantia’s Vin de Constance 2020 and library release of Californian giant, Opus One. Hermitage La Chapelle 2021 (which was previously known as Paul Jaboulet Aîné’s Hermitage La Chapelle) was released internationally on Thursday 31 August for £2,268 per case of 12, the first wines from Hermitage to be offered through La Place. This markets a rise of 56.2% on the 2020 vintage, according to Liv-ex, making it the most expensive vintage in over ten years. Db’s Colin Hay’s (whose tasting notes on the release can be found here) awarded it 97 points and described it as “long and supremely elegant” and a wine that “continues the succession of recent greatness from La Chapelle”. Along with the 2021 harvest, the 2013, 2011, and 2006 vintages were re-released, each priced at £149 per bottle (the equivalent to £1,788 per case of 12, Liv-ex said. ). Yesterday (5 September) saw the release of Clos Apalta 2020 from Chile’s Casa Lapostolle, which saw a 5.3% rise in price to £948 per case of 12, according to Liv-ex. db’s Colin Hay called it “really excellent”, and awarded it 97 points, noting that it was “the most intensely aromatically floral” wine of the September releases he had tasted. However, Liv-ex argued that both the 2018 and 2019 vintages were available at a lower price, and that the 2010 and 2012 offered fairer market value than the latest release. Clos Apalta’s
This Article was originally published on The Drink Business - Fine Wine
