Paul Jaboulet-Aîné : Domaine des Pierrelles 2023

Characteristics and tasting notes of the Domaine des Pierrelles 2023 from Paul Jaboulet-Aîné

Tasting

Appearance
The wine reveals a deep red hue with vibrant highlights.

Nose
The nose opens with an expressive bouquet of black fruits and dark cherry, enhanced by hints of orange peel and crushed violet. Subtle mineral touches reminiscent of graphite dust and notes of warm spices round out this rich aromatic palette.

Palate
Full-bodied and structured, the palate charms with its elegance and silky tannins of great finesse. It unfolds delicious notes of raspberry, cherry and violet, underpinned by a persistent mineral thread that extends into a beautifully long finish.

Food and wine pairings

This wine pairs wonderfully with roasted or slow-cooked lamb with herbs, as well as classic meats such as veal, pork, beef or game. It also goes very well with Asian dishes rich in umami, grilled vegetables with pronounced flavours, pasta with meat sauce, or aged cheeses such as Comté or Gruyère.

Serving and cellaring

For optimal enjoyment of Domaine des Pierrelles 2023, it is recommended to serve it at a temperature between 16 and 18°C, after storing it in the dark between 12 and 15°C. This wine can be enjoyed in its youth for its elegance, but it has the ageing potential to rest in the cellar until around 2038.

The elegance and minerality of a Côte-Rôtie wine

The estate

Founded in 1834 by Antoine Jaboulet in Tain l'Hermitage, the Paul Jaboulet-Aîné estate is an emblematic institution of the Rhône Valley. Acquired in 2006 by the Frey family, the property has undergone a profound transformation under the leadership of Caroline Frey, who led the vineyard to full biodynamic certification in 2021. Since July 2025, her sister Delphine Frey Prost has taken over the estate, carrying on this historic legacy that combines respect for the terroir, environmental innovation and a commitment to quality.

The vineyard

Created in 2006, the Domaine des Pierrelles plot covers approximately 1.5 hectares in the heart of the Côte Blonde sector, within the prestigious Côte-Rôtie appellation. The vines, aged between thirty and fifty years, thrive on steep south-facing slopes of fifty-six degrees, composed of decomposing mica schist and outcropping bedrock. Grown biodynamically, this terroir benefits from very low yields to favour concentration in the berries.

The vintage

The year began with a cool, wet spring, followed by moderate months of June and July. August was marked by an intense and prolonged heatwave. In early September, welcome rains revived the vegetative cycle of the vines. A swift harvest was decided upon before a mid-September storm, which largely spared the area with very light rainfall, thus offering ideal late-ripening conditions.

Vinification and ageing

The grapes for Domaine des Pierrelles 2023 are hand-harvested in small crates, then meticulously sorted by plot, on both optical and manual sorting tables. After destemming, fermentation is carried out traditionally. Ageing takes place over a period of twelve to eighteen months in French oak barrels, including 20% new wood, complemented by time spent in demi-muids, truncated conical vats or concrete eggs.

Grape variety

100% Syrah.