Domaines Paul Jaboulet Aîné - Crozes Hermitage Domaine de Roure 2015

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

Caroline Frey diligently manages this valley institution. The changes she has implemented have never been more successful, both in the vineyard and in the winery. The red wines are clean, refined, and fresh with fruity aromas, while the whites are crisp and sophisticated. At the top of the range is the legendary Hermitage La-Chapelle, a masterful blend of Méal and Bessards, two of the hill’s most famous slopes.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the estate:

Founded in 1834, Paul Jaboulet Aîné remained a family-owned business until 2006, when it was acquired by the financial firm Frey. In addition to its wine trading business, which has significantly reduced its volumes, “PJA” owns the second-largest vineyard estate in Hermitage. Its 25 hectares (21 of red, four of white) occupy prime locations in Le Méal, Les Greffieux, Les Dionnières, Les Roucoules, and a few plots in Bessards at the far western edge of the hillside. Until the early 1990s, this institution produced some of the world’s most legendary Syrahs, including La Chapelle, a blend of aged Syrahs. Depending on the vintage, between 30,000 and 80,000 bottles of La Chapelle red are produced. Selection is based on the finesse of the tannins and depth. The middle and lower sections of the Méal hillside form the heart of the cuvée. After one year of aging, with 15 to 20% new oak, the less dense lots are set aside and become part of La Petite Chapelle (now called Maison Bleue), to be enjoyed within five to seven years.

Vinous

About the wine:

An opaque ruby color. A complex bouquet with a pronounced fragrance, featuring aromas of Boysenberry, cherry liqueur, licorice, and smoky minerality that unfold with exposure to air. The palate is marked by soft, dense aromas of black and blue fruits, spice cake, and candied violets, with flavors that are surprisingly graceful thanks to a juicy acidity. Velvety tannins create a broad, smoky finish that blends with a superb floral finish.

James Suckling

Jeb Dunnuck

About the wine:

I loved the 2015 Crozes-Hermitage from Domaine De Roure, which has a firm, structured, yet impressive style. Black raspberries, graphite, burnt earth, and plenty of minerality emerge from the glass. It features well-structured tannins and a concentrated, full-bodied, and structured palate.