In late September 2024, amidst the grandeur of Paris’s Hotel de Crillon, a wine tasting like no other was about to unfold. As I sat at a table where history echoed—this very hotel once housed Marie Antoinette on her final night before her execution—I was about to learn of a secret that would redefine the world of wine. Today, February 9, marks the official unveiling of a revolutionary creation: Grange La Chapelle.
This wine is the result of an ambitious partnership between two iconic estates, Penfolds and Domaine de La Chapelle. The 2021 vintage of Grange La Chapelle represents an innovative 50:50 blend of Shiraz and Syrah sourced from the best of the Southern and Northern Hemispheres, respectively. Only a handful of individuals, including myself, have tasted this rare wine before its public debut at Vinexpo Paris, scheduled for tonight at La Monnaie de Paris.
A Long-Awaited Collaboration
The partnership between Penfolds, the Australian powerhouse known for its Grange label, and Domaine de La Chapelle, a leader in the Northern Rhône’s Syrah production, has been decades in the making. Caroline Frey, La Chapelle’s Chief Winemaker, describes the history of their shared admiration, with the two wines often discussed, served together, or even poured side-by-side at iconic wine tastings.
Despite this natural synergy, the creation of Grange La Chapelle was no easy feat. Combining these legendary wines into a single bottle represents a bold, unconventional step. To take barrels of Grange and La Chapelle and use them for a hybrid wine that defies traditional appellation rules was, in the words of Penfolds’ Chief Winemaker Peter Gago, an act of calculated iconoclasm. As Gago quipped, quoting Oscar Wilde: “There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about.” Grange La Chapelle will undoubtedly spark discussions, both for its innovation and its execution.
The Tasting Experience
As I tasted the wine, I found myself struck by the balance between its two components. Initially skeptical about the concept of a trans-hemispheric blend, I was soon won over by the wine’s harmonious structure. Far from being a mere variation of Grange or La Chapelle, Grange La Chapelle stands on its own merits, blending the best elements of both estates into a wine that doesn’t simply hint at its origins—it fully integrates them.
The result is a wine that feels as though it could have come from a single vineyard in one region, despite its global roots. It’s a testament to the skill involved in crafting a wine that balances two distinctly different terroirs while remaining entirely unique. The tannins are fine, the fruit rich and lush, with brambly blackberry and soft hints of cedar and walnut oil. There’s an intriguing freshness, with floral notes of rose and lavender that provide lift to the deeper, gamey flavors. It’s a wine that feels simultaneously youthful and complete—radiant, smooth, and inviting.
A Collector’s Dream
The Grange La Chapelle is a limited release, with production kept deliberately small. Only 18 carefully selected merchants will distribute the wine, ensuring its exclusivity. The 2021 vintage, which marks the first release, will retail at $3500 per bottle in Australia and €2600 in France. The 2022 vintage is already bottled, and the 2023 vintage is still aging in barrels.
This wine isn’t just a collector’s dream; it’s a bold statement of what’s possible when two legendary wine estates decide to push boundaries and break conventions. While the future of trans-hemispheric blends remains uncertain, Grange La Chapelle is a milestone that will undoubtedly fuel much debate and admiration for years to come.
Tasting Note for Grange La Chapelle 2021:
A 50/50 blend of Shiraz from Penfolds Grange and Syrah from Domaine de La Chapelle, this wine is a remarkable exercise in balance. The tannins are seamless, the fruit plush and brambly, with a lovely herbal lift and hints of cedar and walnut oil. Subtle floral notes of rose and lavender emerge alongside deeper gamey flavors, all wrapped in an elegant, almost crystalline structure. The wine’s freshness and smoothness belie its complexity, and it stands as a unique creation that transcends its origins.
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