Paul Jaboulet Aîné
About Paul Jaboulet Aîné
Undoubtedly one of the greatest names in the Rhône Valley, Paul Jaboulet Aîné was founded in 1834 by Antoine Jaboulet and is perhaps best known for its flagship La Chapelle, of which the 1961 vintage still holds the title as one of the greatest wines ever made. A series of mishaps in the 1990s threw the estate in disarray and it took the financial might of the Frey family to set the estate on a path to recovery.
Since 2006, the Frey family have accomplished an impressive feat at Paul Jaboulet Aine by taking this historic estate to its rightful place as the first growth of the Rhone. With their experience at Chateau La Lagune in Bordeaux, the Frey family saw the potential in Jaboulet’s vineyards, including the important and iconic vineyard, Hermitage La Chapelle.
Caroline Frey has since taken over as owner and winemaker of Paul Jaboulet Aîné and within 10 years, enabled Paul Jaboulet Aîné to attain organic certification.
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James Suckling (96)
Incredibly deep and complex nose for the 2021 vintage with masses of forest berry, licorice and autumn trumpet mushroom aromas, with an enormous tannin structure that's very refined. The classic power of Hermitage comes through at the extremely long finish. Although the tannins are anything but aggressive, the aromas will need considerable time to fully unfurl. From parcels on the western side of the Hermitage hill with predominantly granite soils, the largest parcel being in Le Meal. From organically grown grapes. Drinkable now, but best from 2026.Inc. TAX€1,605.05 -
Inc. TAX€474.47
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Inc. TAX€318.89
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Inc. TAX€848.53
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Wine Advocate (94)
The 2015 Cornas Domaine de Saint Pierre is a full-bodied, concentrated wine that brings the essence of Cornas to the bottle in its scents of crushed stones and firm, tannic finish. Hints of toasted almond and mocha give it a gloss of modernity, but its red plum fruit, hints of iron or blood, and sturdy feel bring it right back to the appellation's granite slopes.Inc. TAX€679.98 -
Vinous (93)
Inky ruby. Powerful, mineral-driven aromas of ripe black/blue fruits, candied violet, olive and exotic spices. Densely packed and focused on the palate, offering bitter cherry and boysenberry flavors that unfold slowly with air and show sharp delineation. The blue fruit and floral notes drive a long, juicy finish given framework by dusty, slow-building tannins.Inc. TAX€516.78 -
Vinous (94)
Glass-staining ruby. An expansive bouquet evokes blue fruit preserves, potpourri and olive paste, and a hint of smoky bacon builds in the glass. A vibrant mineral nuance adds energetic lift to sappy boysenberry, blackberry spicecake and violet pastille flavors that deepen and spread out slowly on the back half. Shows wonderful energy for its heft and finishes on a gently tannic note, displaying sharp delineation and emphatic mineral thrust.Inc. TAX€719.32 -
Wine Advocate (94)
The 2017 Cote Rotie Domaine des Pierrelles is full-bodied but exceedingly elegant, with silky, fine-grained tannins. Charming notes of violets, raspberries and black olives lead the way, backed by hints of dried spices and mocha, finishing long. It's a complex and compelling example of Cote Rotie, and it's great to see all of the Jaboulet team's hard work in the vineyards paying off.Inc. TAX€587.58 -
Vinous (94)
Dark ruby. Pungent, spice- and smoke-tinged dark berries, cherry pit, olive and potpourri on the assertively perfumed nose. Juicy and energetic on the palate, offering gently sweet red and dark berry flavors, along with floral pastille, allspice, olive and cracked pepper notes. Fine-grained tannins add shape to a very long, lively finish that strongly echoes the floral and spice notes.Inc. TAX€634.38 -
Inc. TAX€1,066.49
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Inc. TAX€708.89
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Inc. TAX€860.87
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Wine Advocate (94)
Bearing more than a passing resemblance to an actual Hermitage, the 2017 Crozes Hermitage Domaine de Roure comes from granitic soils, and it comes across as darker, more concentrated and sturdier than Jaboulet's other Crozes bottlings. Cassis and black olive notes abound in this full-bodied, structured wine, which finishes long and velvety, picking up hints of baking spices along the way.Inc. TAX€439.98 -
Vinous (94)
Deep magenta. A highly perfumed bouquet evokes ripe red and blue fruits, potpourri and licorice, and a smoky mineral accent builds in the glass. Appealingly sweet and penetrating on the palate, offering juicy dark fruit preserve and floral pastille flavors that are brightened by a snap of juicy acidity and a building, spicy nuance. Clings with impressive tenacity on the gently tannic finish, leaving behind Chambord and exotic spice notes.Inc. TAX€419.58 -
Inc. TAX€545.69
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Wine Advocate (93)
The 2010 Crozes-Hermitage Domaine de Thalabert, which I raved about last year, is slightly better than their brilliant 2009. It boasts a dense purple color along with a beautiful perfume of camphor, licorice, forest floor, black currants and Christmas fruitcake. With tremendous intensity, full body and supple tannins, it should drink well for 10-15 years, perhaps longer where well-stored. This cuvee is always one of the best buys in the Northern Rhone.Inc. TAX€431.58 -
Vinous (94)
Inky ruby. Suave, mineral-accented scents of ripe blueberry, black currant and Indian spices, along with a slowly emerging floral component. Plush, broad and deeply concentrated, displaying black and blue fruit, licorice and mocha flavors that are energized by an intense, peppery overtone. Finishes extremely long, fleshy and sweet, delivering intense mineral thrust, a subtle cracked pepper nuance and youthful, building tannins.Inc. TAX€219.18 -
Jeb Dunnuck (94)
The 2016 Crozes Hermitage Domaine De Thalabert offers a rocking (and classic) bouquet of ripe black fruits intermixed with notions new saddle leather, pepper, garrigue, and hints of bacon fat. This ripe, medium to full-bodied, silky wine has remarkable purity, is already complex, and finishes with serious length. Drink it over the coming 10-15 years.Inc. TAX€390.78 -
Inc. TAX€227.27
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Jeb Dunnuck (94)
This terroir always delivers a wild, opulent, gamey style of wine, and the 2017 Crozes-Hermitage Domaine de Thalabert doesn’t disappoint. Loads of chocolaty black fruits, ground pepper, truffle, and smoked game, as well as a hint of black olives, emerge from the glass, and it’s medium to full-bodied, has a rocking texture, ripe tannins, and a great finish. It’s a classic example of this wine and terroir. Drink it over the coming 15 years or so.Inc. TAX€253.98 -
Wine Advocate (93-95)
Although the fruit sourcing has changed from the old days, the 2018 Crozes Hermitage Domaine de Thalabert remains a solid offering in the Jaboulet lineup. Violets accent blackberries and plums on the nose, while the palate is full-bodied, lush and velvety, underscored by doses of salinity and licorice on the lengthy finish.Inc. TAX€277.98 -
Matthew Jukes (18+)
Following on from the terrific 2018 vintage, this is another exuberant wine with an inky dark hue and masses of swirling, black fruit notes. This is certainly the most exotically perfumed Thalabert I can remember and this reflects the unique fruit concentration and ripeness found in this vintage. Once you taste this wine you see that it is not all about the luxuriously appointed nose because the palate is packed with spice and tension and the finish is positively electric. In terms of accessibility and also potential, this wine is a conundrum – how can something so young and attractive also seem so compact and age-worthy? This is the key to all of Jaboulet’s 2019s. The exquisite balance between ravishing fruit and refreshing, robust tannins is mesmerising. This is a stupendous Thalabert and I think it is a notch up on the brilliant 2018.Inc. TAX€257.27 -
Inc. TAX€368.87
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Wine Advocate (100)
Of the three benchmark la Chapelles ('90, '78 and '61), the 1961 Hermitage la Chapelle is the largest, most massive and over-the-top of the trio. Offering a stunning - literally off the charts - bouquet of truffles, soy sauce, smoked meats, coffee bean and wood smoke, it is the absolute essence of this cuvee and of the magical, south-facing Hermitage Hill from where it comes. Thick, unctuous and massive on the palate, I can only imagine what this beast of a wine must have tasted like in its youth. I also wish every winemaker/person who comments about a wine being too big, too rich, or too over-the-top could have a glass of this elixir. It's certainly fully mature, yet it still amazingly has sweet tannin and no shortage of fruit or texture. Given its mid-palate density, it will most likely be a 100-year wine. Still, why wait?Inc. TAX€12,868.62 -
Wine Spectator (94)
After a hot summer followed by rain at harvest, this "miracle" vintage produced many gorgeous northern Rhône Syrahs. Balanced, racy, elegant, fresh and sweet-tasting, with smooth tannins. Aromas of leather, roasted nuts, plum and wood smoke bring a complexity that seduces. Medium-bodied and in the lineage of '96.--La Chapelle vertical. Drink now through 2015. -PMInc. TAX€602.53 -
Wine Spectator (94)
After a hot summer followed by rain at harvest, this "miracle" vintage produced many gorgeous northern Rhône Syrahs. Balanced, racy, elegant, fresh and sweet-tasting, with smooth tannins. Aromas of leather, roasted nuts, plum and wood smoke bring a complexity that seduces. Medium-bodied and in the lineage of '96.--La Chapelle vertical. Drink now through 2015. -PMInc. TAX€2,692.38 -
Wine Spectator (94)
Much more expressive on the nose than the '97--and darker and thicker--adding to the evidence that '96 is a better vintage in the northern Rhône. Delivers a round, clean, pure mouthfeel of vibrant, focused red berry and blackberry flavors. Superb balance, as it walks a tightrope among the relatively high acidity, ripe tannins and delicious fruit. Worth cellaring.--La Chapelle vertical. Best from 2003 through 2015. -PMInc. TAX€315.73 -
Wine Spectator (97)
Some lovely fruit, polished and clean, with all the attributes of a fine terroir--mineral and above all a lot of sweet, ultraripe fruit. Full-bodied, long, with plenty of toasted, smoked bacon and blackberry notes. Easier to appreciate young than many La Chapelles, but what hedonistic pleasure. Best from 2007 through 2015. 4,425 cases made. -PMInc. TAX€982.38 -
Jancis Robinson (17)
A little animal on the nose. Then sweet and salty Syrah with medium intensity. I wonder why such a mature vintage is available? But it’s fully developed and is not such poor value compared with some of these wines.Inc. TAX€1,240.38 -
Wine Advocate (98)
It will be thrilling to follow the 2009 and 2010 la Chapelles over the coming 40-50 years. Much more sexy, voluptuous and layered than the 2010, the 2009 Hermitage la Chapelle offers sensational levels of extract and concentration to go with notes of cassis, black raspberries, coffee bean, toasted bread and sweet spice. Beautifully pure, layered, and yet massively endowed, with sweet tannin, it will be drinkable at an earlier age than the 2010, but I suspect will be just as long lived. It's a true tour de force in Hermitage!Inc. TAX€1,468.38
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James Suckling (96)
Incredibly deep and complex nose for the 2021 vintage with masses of forest berry, licorice and autumn trumpet mushroom aromas, with an enormous tannin structure that's very refined. The classic power of Hermitage comes through at the extremely long finish. Although the tannins are anything but aggressive, the aromas will need considerable time to fully unfurl. From parcels on the western side of the Hermitage hill with predominantly granite soils, the largest parcel being in Le Meal. From organically grown grapes. Drinkable now, but best from 2026.In Bond€1,315.00 -
In Bond€373.00
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In Bond€262.00
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In Bond€704.00
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Wine Advocate (94)
The 2015 Cornas Domaine de Saint Pierre is a full-bodied, concentrated wine that brings the essence of Cornas to the bottle in its scents of crushed stones and firm, tannic finish. Hints of toasted almond and mocha give it a gloss of modernity, but its red plum fruit, hints of iron or blood, and sturdy feel bring it right back to the appellation's granite slopes.In Bond€548.00 -
Vinous (93)
Inky ruby. Powerful, mineral-driven aromas of ripe black/blue fruits, candied violet, olive and exotic spices. Densely packed and focused on the palate, offering bitter cherry and boysenberry flavors that unfold slowly with air and show sharp delineation. The blue fruit and floral notes drive a long, juicy finish given framework by dusty, slow-building tannins.In Bond€412.00 -
Vinous (94)
Glass-staining ruby. An expansive bouquet evokes blue fruit preserves, potpourri and olive paste, and a hint of smoky bacon builds in the glass. A vibrant mineral nuance adds energetic lift to sappy boysenberry, blackberry spicecake and violet pastille flavors that deepen and spread out slowly on the back half. Shows wonderful energy for its heft and finishes on a gently tannic note, displaying sharp delineation and emphatic mineral thrust.In Bond€577.00 -
Wine Advocate (94)
The 2017 Cote Rotie Domaine des Pierrelles is full-bodied but exceedingly elegant, with silky, fine-grained tannins. Charming notes of violets, raspberries and black olives lead the way, backed by hints of dried spices and mocha, finishing long. It's a complex and compelling example of Cote Rotie, and it's great to see all of the Jaboulet team's hard work in the vineyards paying off.In Bond€471.00 -
Vinous (94)
Dark ruby. Pungent, spice- and smoke-tinged dark berries, cherry pit, olive and potpourri on the assertively perfumed nose. Juicy and energetic on the palate, offering gently sweet red and dark berry flavors, along with floral pastille, allspice, olive and cracked pepper notes. Fine-grained tannins add shape to a very long, lively finish that strongly echoes the floral and spice notes.In Bond€510.00 -
In Bond€885.00
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In Bond€587.00
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In Bond€695.00
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Wine Advocate (94)
Bearing more than a passing resemblance to an actual Hermitage, the 2017 Crozes Hermitage Domaine de Roure comes from granitic soils, and it comes across as darker, more concentrated and sturdier than Jaboulet's other Crozes bottlings. Cassis and black olive notes abound in this full-bodied, structured wine, which finishes long and velvety, picking up hints of baking spices along the way.In Bond€348.00 -
Vinous (94)
Deep magenta. A highly perfumed bouquet evokes ripe red and blue fruits, potpourri and licorice, and a smoky mineral accent builds in the glass. Appealingly sweet and penetrating on the palate, offering juicy dark fruit preserve and floral pastille flavors that are brightened by a snap of juicy acidity and a building, spicy nuance. Clings with impressive tenacity on the gently tannic finish, leaving behind Chambord and exotic spice notes.In Bond€331.00 -
In Bond€451.00
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Wine Advocate (93)
The 2010 Crozes-Hermitage Domaine de Thalabert, which I raved about last year, is slightly better than their brilliant 2009. It boasts a dense purple color along with a beautiful perfume of camphor, licorice, forest floor, black currants and Christmas fruitcake. With tremendous intensity, full body and supple tannins, it should drink well for 10-15 years, perhaps longer where well-stored. This cuvee is always one of the best buys in the Northern Rhone.In Bond€341.00 -
Vinous (94)
Inky ruby. Suave, mineral-accented scents of ripe blueberry, black currant and Indian spices, along with a slowly emerging floral component. Plush, broad and deeply concentrated, displaying black and blue fruit, licorice and mocha flavors that are energized by an intense, peppery overtone. Finishes extremely long, fleshy and sweet, delivering intense mineral thrust, a subtle cracked pepper nuance and youthful, building tannins.In Bond€164.00 -
Jeb Dunnuck (94)
The 2016 Crozes Hermitage Domaine De Thalabert offers a rocking (and classic) bouquet of ripe black fruits intermixed with notions new saddle leather, pepper, garrigue, and hints of bacon fat. This ripe, medium to full-bodied, silky wine has remarkable purity, is already complex, and finishes with serious length. Drink it over the coming 10-15 years.In Bond€307.00 -
In Bond€167.00
-
Jeb Dunnuck (94)
This terroir always delivers a wild, opulent, gamey style of wine, and the 2017 Crozes-Hermitage Domaine de Thalabert doesn’t disappoint. Loads of chocolaty black fruits, ground pepper, truffle, and smoked game, as well as a hint of black olives, emerge from the glass, and it’s medium to full-bodied, has a rocking texture, ripe tannins, and a great finish. It’s a classic example of this wine and terroir. Drink it over the coming 15 years or so.In Bond€193.00 -
Wine Advocate (93-95)
Although the fruit sourcing has changed from the old days, the 2018 Crozes Hermitage Domaine de Thalabert remains a solid offering in the Jaboulet lineup. Violets accent blackberries and plums on the nose, while the palate is full-bodied, lush and velvety, underscored by doses of salinity and licorice on the lengthy finish.In Bond€213.00 -
Matthew Jukes (18+)
Following on from the terrific 2018 vintage, this is another exuberant wine with an inky dark hue and masses of swirling, black fruit notes. This is certainly the most exotically perfumed Thalabert I can remember and this reflects the unique fruit concentration and ripeness found in this vintage. Once you taste this wine you see that it is not all about the luxuriously appointed nose because the palate is packed with spice and tension and the finish is positively electric. In terms of accessibility and also potential, this wine is a conundrum – how can something so young and attractive also seem so compact and age-worthy? This is the key to all of Jaboulet’s 2019s. The exquisite balance between ravishing fruit and refreshing, robust tannins is mesmerising. This is a stupendous Thalabert and I think it is a notch up on the brilliant 2018.In Bond€192.00 -
In Bond€285.00
-
Wine Advocate (100)
Of the three benchmark la Chapelles ('90, '78 and '61), the 1961 Hermitage la Chapelle is the largest, most massive and over-the-top of the trio. Offering a stunning - literally off the charts - bouquet of truffles, soy sauce, smoked meats, coffee bean and wood smoke, it is the absolute essence of this cuvee and of the magical, south-facing Hermitage Hill from where it comes. Thick, unctuous and massive on the palate, I can only imagine what this beast of a wine must have tasted like in its youth. I also wish every winemaker/person who comments about a wine being too big, too rich, or too over-the-top could have a glass of this elixir. It's certainly fully mature, yet it still amazingly has sweet tannin and no shortage of fruit or texture. Given its mid-palate density, it will most likely be a 100-year wine. Still, why wait?In Bond€10,720.00 -
Wine Spectator (94)
After a hot summer followed by rain at harvest, this "miracle" vintage produced many gorgeous northern Rhône Syrahs. Balanced, racy, elegant, fresh and sweet-tasting, with smooth tannins. Aromas of leather, roasted nuts, plum and wood smoke bring a complexity that seduces. Medium-bodied and in the lineage of '96.--La Chapelle vertical. Drink now through 2015. -PMIn Bond€499.00 -
Wine Spectator (94)
After a hot summer followed by rain at harvest, this "miracle" vintage produced many gorgeous northern Rhône Syrahs. Balanced, racy, elegant, fresh and sweet-tasting, with smooth tannins. Aromas of leather, roasted nuts, plum and wood smoke bring a complexity that seduces. Medium-bodied and in the lineage of '96.--La Chapelle vertical. Drink now through 2015. -PMIn Bond€2,225.00 -
Wine Spectator (94)
Much more expressive on the nose than the '97--and darker and thicker--adding to the evidence that '96 is a better vintage in the northern Rhône. Delivers a round, clean, pure mouthfeel of vibrant, focused red berry and blackberry flavors. Superb balance, as it walks a tightrope among the relatively high acidity, ripe tannins and delicious fruit. Worth cellaring.--La Chapelle vertical. Best from 2003 through 2015. -PMIn Bond€260.00 -
Wine Spectator (97)
Some lovely fruit, polished and clean, with all the attributes of a fine terroir--mineral and above all a lot of sweet, ultraripe fruit. Full-bodied, long, with plenty of toasted, smoked bacon and blackberry notes. Easier to appreciate young than many La Chapelles, but what hedonistic pleasure. Best from 2007 through 2015. 4,425 cases made. -PMIn Bond€800.00 -
Jancis Robinson (17)
A little animal on the nose. Then sweet and salty Syrah with medium intensity. I wonder why such a mature vintage is available? But it’s fully developed and is not such poor value compared with some of these wines.In Bond€1,015.00 -
Wine Advocate (98)
It will be thrilling to follow the 2009 and 2010 la Chapelles over the coming 40-50 years. Much more sexy, voluptuous and layered than the 2010, the 2009 Hermitage la Chapelle offers sensational levels of extract and concentration to go with notes of cassis, black raspberries, coffee bean, toasted bread and sweet spice. Beautifully pure, layered, and yet massively endowed, with sweet tannin, it will be drinkable at an earlier age than the 2010, but I suspect will be just as long lived. It's a true tour de force in Hermitage!In Bond€1,205.00