Coming back from a potluck party at a friend's house, I was saddened by the news that there will be no La Chapelle Hermitage 08 for any of us to drink.
Paul Jaboulet-Aine announced on their Facebook Fan Page that the pouring rains of September 2008 (a 30 year record) were equal to what they usually get in 6 months in the Rhone
They shared this graph of rainfalls (above), 2008 is the red line, pretty much double the rains of 2009.
The soggy September combined with a difficult vintage made them decide to not release a 2008 vintage for La Chapelle Hermitage.
They felt that they could not come up with something up to their high standards.
As a consolation prize, they are still releasing a 2008 La Petite Chapelle, its sibling.
Jancis Robinson gives La Petite Chapelle a 17/20.
Congratulations for not compromising.