Paul Jaboulet-Aîné : Les Cassines 2021

Tasting characteristics and advice for Les Cassines 2021 Paul Jaboulet-Aîné

Tasting notes

Colour
The colour reveals a pale yellow hue with silvery highlights, reflecting careful winemaking and a lovely freshness.

Nose
The nose expresses itself generously through a floral bouquet dominated by notes of acacia, linden blossom and orange blossom. Aromas of yellow fruit, particularly white peach and apricot, accompany this floral expression. As it opens up, oaky and toasted notes reveal themselves, adding a further dimension of complexity.

Palate
On the palate, the wine shows itself full-bodied and generous from the very first sip. The velvety texture envelops the palate while a lively acidity brings freshness and balance. The finish lingers elegantly, revealing a lovely aromatic persistence and a pleasant touch of bitterness that signals the minerality of the granite terroir.

Food and wine pairing

This Condrieu pairs perfectly with Thai curry, sushi or spring rolls. It also shines alongside a langoustine and green apple salad, pan-seared warm foie gras with mango, seared scallops or asparagus. Soft-rind cheeses also make for a harmonious pairing.

Service and storage

Les Cassines 2021 is best enjoyed at a temperature between 10 and 14°C.

Other characteristics

This dry white wine has an alcohol content of 14% by volume.

An expressive and elegant Condrieu from the Rhône Valley by Paul Jaboulet-Aîné

The estate

Founded in 1834 in Tain-l'Hermitage by Antoine Jaboulet, the House of Paul Jaboulet-Aîné has embodied winemaking excellence in the Rhône Valley for nearly two centuries. Acquired in 2006 by the Frey family, who also own Château La Lagune and Château Corton-André, the house is now led by Delphine Frey. The estate spans 125 hectares across the most prestigious appellations of the Northern and Southern Rhône Valley. Committed to an exemplary environmental approach, the entire vineyard has been cultivated biodynamically since 2021, with organic certification achieved as early as 2016.

The vineyard

The Les Cassines vineyard covers approximately three hectares of plots situated on the steep slopes of Condrieu, facing due south above the Rhône. The vines, planted between 1993 and 2003, are rooted in weathered granite soils that have broken down into decomposed granite, characteristic of the appellation. These narrow terraces, known as "chayées," are supported by dry-stone walls. The average altitude is around 230 metres, with an average slope of 58%, requiring entirely manual vineyard management. This configuration optimises sun exposure and drainage while giving the wine its distinctive minerality.

The vintage

The 2021 vintage in the Rhône Valley was marked by contrasting weather conditions. Winter saw an episode of unusually intense frost, followed by a milder spring that favoured flowering at the end of May. June and July proved particularly rainy, with instability observed between mid-July and mid-August. Conditions at the end of summer nonetheless allowed for optimal grape ripening, with the harvest taking place between 13 and 17 September 2021.

Winemaking and aging

The grapes for Les Cassines 2021 are hand-harvested at optimal ripeness and transported in small 12-kilogram crates. After whole-bunch pressing, the must undergoes a 24-hour cold settling process. Alcoholic fermentation takes place at low temperature in a combination of concrete eggs, French oak barrels and temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks. The wine is then aged for 8 months on fine lees in these same vessels as well as in demi-muids, promoting yeast autolysis and enriching the texture.

Grape variety

100% Viognier