Paul Jaboulet-Aîné : Domaine de la Croix des Vignes 2020

A delicate and complex Saint-Joseph wine

The estate

Paul Jaboulet-Aîné, the infamous reference among Northern Rhône Valley wines, was founded in 1834 in Tain L'Hermitage. The renowned oenologist and winemaker, Caroline Frey, has been running this illustrious house, owned by the Frey family, since 2006. Maison Paul Jaboulet Aîné watches over 125 hectares of vines that spread over exceptional appellations such as Saint-Joseph, Crozes-Hermitage, Hermitage, Cornas, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Côte-Rôtie, Condrieu and Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise.

The vineyard

Domaine de la Croix des Vignes is a Saint-Joseph wine that stems from a 1.5-hectare terroir located in the historic vineyards of the appellation, above Mauves and Tournon sur Rhône. The vines are approximately 10 to 30 years old and are planted on a south-facing terroir upon decomposed granite soil.

The vintage

A mild winter, favouring an early budding of the vines, preceded a warm spring with regular rainfall. The flowering period was homogeneous and very good quality. July was hot and dry. The harvest took place under very good conditions and enabled the teams to harvest very healthy grapes.

Vinification and ageing

The grapes are harvested by hand and sorted in the vineyard. Vatting for around 4 weeks with gentle extractions. The wine is aged in French oak barrels, 20% of which are new.

The blend

Domaine de la Croix des Vignes 2020 by Paul Jaboulet-Aîné is a 100% Syrah.

Cellaring

This Saint-Joseph wine can be kept in the cellar until 2040 in order to express its full range of aromas.