Paul Jaboulet-Aîné : Domaine Mule Blanche 2021

Characteristics and Tasting Notes for the Domaine de Thalabert Mule Blanche 2021 Paul Jaboulet-Aîné

Tasting

Colour
The colour reveals a pale yellow hue with silvery highlights.

Nose
The nose opens with elegant aromas of white-fleshed fruit, notably peach and pear, accompanied by floral notes of acacia and hawthorn. Subtle mineral and citrus touches complete this delicate bouquet.

Palate
On the palate, the wine reveals a round, silky texture, with flavours of peach and apricot. The minerality brings freshness and tension, while subtle toasted and almond notes add complexity. The finish lingers on citrus and candied fruit aromas with a lightly toasted touch.

Food and wine pairing

This white wine from Crozes-Hermitage pairs perfectly with grilled or fried fish, particularly sole and sea bream. It also pairs very well with seafood, shellfish and white meats. It is also ideal as an aperitif.

Service and storage

This Domaine de Thalabert Mule Blanche 2021 is best enjoyed at a temperature between 12 and 14°C. This wine can be enjoyed now and will continue to evolve until around 2026.

Other characteristics

No malolactic fermentation was carried out, thus preserving the wine's natural freshness and vibrancy.

An elegant, mineral Crozes-Hermitage white from the appellation's oldest vineyard

The estate

Founded in 1834 by Antoine Jaboulet in Tain-l'Hermitage, the House of Paul Jaboulet-Aîné is one of the historic references of the northern Rhône Valley. Acquired in 2006 by the Frey family, the estate has undergone a complete transformation towards organic and biodynamic viticulture. Since July 2025, Delphine Frey-Prost has overseen the management of the House, continuing the family's commitment to excellence and respect for the terroir. The estate has been certified organic since 2016 and has farmed all of its vineyards biodynamically since 2021.

The vineyard

The Domaine de Thalabert is the oldest vineyard in the Crozes-Hermitage appellation, owned by Paul Jaboulet-Aîné since 1834. Located on the low terraces of the Rhône in the Châssis sector, the vineyard spans forty hectares planted on glacial alluvial soils composed of rolled pebbles and red clay. These pebbles absorb heat during the day and release it at night, promoting optimal ripening. The white vines, aged between forty and seventy years, benefit from a seven-hectare biodiversity refuge created at the heart of the estate, the first of its kind in the Drôme.

The vintage

The 2021 vintage in the northern Rhône Valley proved challenging for winegrowers. Following a mild winter, spring was marked by frost episodes that affected certain plots. Summer saw high temperatures in July and August with very little rainfall, creating water stress, before welcome rains in mid-August allowed the vines to regain their balance. These conditions favoured grape concentration while preserving a lovely freshness, a characteristic sought after in the appellation's white wines.

Winemaking and aging

The grapes for the Domaine de Thalabert Mule Blanche 2021 are hand-harvested and sorted by plot in small twelve-kilogram crates. After whole-bunch pressing, the must undergoes cold settling. Fermentation takes place in concrete eggs and French oak barrels, with only five percent new wood. The wine is then aged on fine lees for approximately four months in the same vessels, without malolactic fermentation, in order to preserve freshness and mineral tension.

Grape varieties

Marsanne (55%)
Roussanne (45%)