Paul Jaboulet Aine 'La Maison Bleue', Hermitage

Seamlessly blending finesse and complexity, this stunning Hermitage shows wonderful purity of fruit, with Morello cherry, raspberry and floral notes enveloped by silky tannins.

Producer Note

Domaines Paul Jaboulet Aîné was founded in 1834 and cultivates the iconic terroirs from the northern Rhône Valley across seven appellations. Family owned by the Frey family since 2006, talented winemaker Caroline Frey and her team implement heroic viticulture techniques on the unique, heritage landscapes. Following a long tradition in preserving and working the land, the Frey family are pioneers in biodiversity, with a nine hectare wildlife reserve and ecosystem preservation efforts. Since 2016, the vineyards have been certified AB organic and since 2021 the entire vineyard has been cultivated biodynamically and with a regenerative approach. The variety of soils and multitude of terroirs shape the distinctive character of their wines. Caroline is dedicated to crafting exceptional wines following a philosophy that when the grape varieties are in perfect harmony with the terroir, they reveal their finest expression. These are exquisite wines which beautifully reflect the nuances of their origins.

Vineyard

Along the Petite Pierrelle street, not far from the stream of Torras and the road where the blackbirds sing, lies the pretty Maison Bleue. Leaning against the Hermitage Hill, a beautiful vineyard, this small stone house with blue shutters was once a real haven of peace for the winegrowers: a place to work, rest and share located in the heart of a legendary terroir. Today, this winegrower’s house has regained a new youth, it is where growers and horses take shelter from time to time. In the vineyard, the old, low-yielding vines were planted from 1955 to 1994 and yield between 25 to 35 hl/ha. Grown at 190 metres elevation, with a southerly exposure they are mostly trained according to the Cordon de Royat method, with some Gobelet bush vines trained on stakes. They are planted on the easternmost terroirs of the hill, where the soils are deeper. The soils are linked to the river terraces of the Rhône, composed of limestone on colluvium. The entire vineyard is certified organic and cultivated with respect for the soil and the living ecosystem. Viticulture is viewed as a long-term endeavour, a continuous quest aimed at regenerating the environmental sphere, thus providing the means for terroir-driven fine wines to shine.

Winemaking

The grapes were hand harvested and sorted by plot into small 12kg crates before being manually sorted. The grapes were 100% de-stemmed, followed by three weeks’ maceration with daily pumping over. The wine underwent malolactic conversion and was aged for 12 months in French oak barrels of which 15% were new.

Tasting Note

Seamlessly blending finesse and complexity, this stunning Hermitage shows wonderful purity of fruit, with Morello cherry, raspberry and floral notes enveloped by silky tannins.

Grape

Syrah 100%