Paul Jaboulet-Aîné : Les Jalets 2023

The fruity framework and structure of a Crozes-Hermitage

The estate

Founded in 1834 in Tain-l’Hermitage by Antoine Jaboulet, the Paul Jaboulet-Aîné house farms 80 hectares in the heart of the Rhône Valley. Acquired by the Frey family in 2006, it is led by winemaker Caroline Frey, who obtained organic certification in 2016 and began conversion to biodynamics. L’Hermitage La Chapelle remains the house’s flagship wine.

The vineyard

Les Jalets comes from Crozes-Hermitage parcels established on Rhône alluvium and rounded pebbles, deep soils typical of the appellation. The name “Les Jalets” refers to an old French term for these pebbles—rounded stones deposited by Alpine glaciers around 30,000 years ago.

Winemaking and aging

Hand-harvested grapes with careful sorting. After destemming and crushing, the grapes undergo three weeks of maceration, with gentle extraction of tannins through daily pump-overs. This Rhône Valley wine is aged for 12 months, divided as follows: 50% in truncated-cone oak vats, 25% in barrels, and 25% in stainless-steel tanks.

Grape variety

Les Jalets 2023 from Paul Jaboulet-Aîné is 100% Syrah.