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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Jeb Dunnuck (97)
I’ve always loved the 2012 Hermitage La Chapelle, and this is the first vintage where winemaker Caroline Frey feels that you can see the full effect of the shift to organic viticulture. Its deep purple color is followed by a ripe, full-bodied, sexy wine loaded with notions of bouquet garni, toasted bread, spiced meats, and assorted darker fruits. Concentrated, structured, and perfectly balanced, it’s a magical Hermitage that has some accessibility today yet will cruise for another 25-30 years.Inc. TAX€1,312.38 -
Decanter (97)
Tasted at Château La Lagune, owner Caroline Frey's Bordeaux outpost. One of the legendary wines from Hermitage Hil, La Chapelle comes from pretty much the only spot on the Rhone's Left Bank where you find granite, along with the classic galet stones. The Jaboulet style is to blend their plots from across the hill, resulting in the stunning power of this wine. The complexity here is of the kind that reveals a truly great wine. There are so many things happening, graphite, slate, fleshy layers of blackberry fruits that collide immediately afterwards by a tightly controlled edge of tannins, then the whole thing finishes slowly, cleanly. Incredible.Inc. TAX€1,203.18
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Jeb Dunnuck (97)
I’ve always loved the 2012 Hermitage La Chapelle, and this is the first vintage where winemaker Caroline Frey feels that you can see the full effect of the shift to organic viticulture. Its deep purple color is followed by a ripe, full-bodied, sexy wine loaded with notions of bouquet garni, toasted bread, spiced meats, and assorted darker fruits. Concentrated, structured, and perfectly balanced, it’s a magical Hermitage that has some accessibility today yet will cruise for another 25-30 years.In Bond€1,075.00 -
Decanter (97)
Tasted at Château La Lagune, owner Caroline Frey's Bordeaux outpost. One of the legendary wines from Hermitage Hil, La Chapelle comes from pretty much the only spot on the Rhone's Left Bank where you find granite, along with the classic galet stones. The Jaboulet style is to blend their plots from across the hill, resulting in the stunning power of this wine. The complexity here is of the kind that reveals a truly great wine. There are so many things happening, graphite, slate, fleshy layers of blackberry fruits that collide immediately afterwards by a tightly controlled edge of tannins, then the whole thing finishes slowly, cleanly. Incredible.In Bond€984.00