Paul Jaboulet Aîné
Maison Paul Jaboulet Aîné is a stalwart of the Rhône valley. It is one of the most famous names in the region, with a heritage that stretches back centuries. The domaine was founded by the Jaboulet family in the 19th century who started with just a few vines in Crozes-Hermitage, home to their superb Domaine de Thalabert vineyard, and they went on to become one of the finest producers in the Rhône valley. The family are perhaps best known for iconic Hermitage La Chapelle, which now sits under its own label of Domaine de la Chapelle.
The sudden death of Gérard Jaboulet in the late 1990s saw the domaine’s reputation wane and it was sold to the Frey family in 2006, who also own Bordeaux’s Third Growth Château La Lagune. Winemaker Caroline Frey's incredible talent and hard work heralded the return of the estate to the top ranks of the Rhone Valley. Although she has recently stepped back, her team continues her legacy with consistently impressive results with Caroline's sister Delphine Frey taking over as head of the family domaine. In total, Jaboulet owns 120 hectares of organically farmed vines across the Northern Rhône, including Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage, Condrieu, Cornas. While many of their excellent reds are Syrah based, they also grow Rhône varieties including Grenache and Mourvedre, while whites include Marsanne, Roussanne and Viognier.