The 1966 La Chapelle's bouquet possessed the most spectacular and persistent aromas of any wine in the vertical tasting. Dried herbs, new saddle leather, soy, roasted duck, grilled steak, and copious quantities of cassis, blackberry, and prune notes soared from the glass of this spectacularly fragrant effort. The promise exhibited by the bouquet did not come through on the palate. Nevertheless, there is still plenty of life remaining in this glycerin-imbued, expansive, lush, low acid, concentrated La Chapelle.
The smoky, peppery, exotic spice characteristics, and multilayered richness are still present, but the wine begins to disintegrate as it sits in the glass. From pristinely stored bottles as well as magnums, it may be one of the more thrilling La Chapelles. It should be drunk up.