21715 customer reviews

Domaines Paul Jaboulet Aîné - Hermitage Chevalier de Sterimberg 2018

Name: Domaines Paul Jaboulet Aîné - Hermitage Chevalier de Sterimberg 2018
Brand: Domaines Paul Jaboulet Aîné
Rating: 4.6 (18 reviews)

Hermitage|White wine|Organic

4.6/5 (18 customers)

95/100

Robert Parker

94+/100

Jeb Dunnuck

94/100

James Suckling

94/100

Vinous

Marsanne

Roussanne

poultry

risotto

rarity

“[...] A blend of two-thirds Marsanne and one-third Roussanne, aged primarily in concrete eggs but with a few 600-liter demi-muids in the mix, it offers aromas of toasted cashews alongside ripe pear, melon, and even peach. Medium-bodied to full-bodied, it is luxurious on the palate—generous yet structured, with a long, long finish of citrus and mineral notes.” (Wine Advocate 2021)

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21715 reviews

-20€

Starting at €99 on your first order

Estate

Domaines Paul Jaboulet Aîné

Vintage

Chevalier de Sterimberg

Vintage

2018

Designation

Hermitage

Region

Rhône

Grape Varieties

Encépagement : 70% Marsanne, 30% Roussanne

Regions

Clay-limestone and sandy-gravel soils on steep hillsides, which lend complexity and elegance to white Hermitage wines

Viticulture

Certified Organic

Grape Harvest

Manuals

Wine Production

Following traditional aging on fine lees—after alcoholic fermentation in barrels and oval concrete tanks—the lees are regularly stirred back into suspension through bâtonnage during the 8- to 10-month aging period.

Livestock Farming

In demi-muids

Alcohol content

13%

Organic

Yes

Eye

Bright yellow

Nose

Very fresh, with notes of peach and pear

Palate

Concentrated, ripe, and juicy, with a blend of sweetness and creamy fruit pulp. A long finish with notes of white pears and melon. Very well-balanced.

Serve

At 12-14°C

Drink before

2040

Guard

Ages 6 to 25

Food and Wine Pairings

Pairs perfectly with a saffron-infused scallop risotto, Bresse chicken in cream sauce, braised veal sweetbreads, and bold cheeses

More information at Domaines Paul Jaboulet Aîné

More information at Hermitage

Bettane & Desseauve

Rated estate (2023 guide): 4*Stars (Producers of the very highest quality, the pride of French viticulture)

About the estate:

Caroline Frey diligently manages this long-standing estate in the valley. 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

Wine rated (2021 guide) 95/100 (Extraordinary wine)

Rated estate (2022 guide) Recommended (Wine producer recommended by Robert Parker—The Wine Advocate)

About the wine:

There hasn’t been a La Chapelle Blanc since 2014, as Caroline Frey hasn’t found the exceptional vineyard that would justify such an exalted designation. Fans of her white wines must make do with wines like the 2018 Hermitage Blanc Le Chevalier de Sterimberg. A blend of two-thirds Marsanne and one-third Roussanne, aged primarily in concrete eggs but with a few 600-liter demi-muids in the mix, it offers aromas of toasted cashews alongside ripe pear, melon, and even peach. Medium-bodied to full-bodied, it’s luxurious on the palate—generous yet structured, with a long, lingering finish of citrus and mineral notes.

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide to the Best Wines of France

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

Estates rated 1*Star (Rising stars or high-quality winemakers producing wines of a high standard—you won’t be disappointed when you taste the wines from these estates)

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 seen a significant reduction in volume—“PJA” owns the second-largest vineyard estate in Hermitage. Its 25 hectares (21 of red, 4 of white) are located in prime spots 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 red La Chapelle are produced. Selection is based on the finesse of the tannins and the wine’s 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 barrels, the less dense lots are set aside and used in La Petite Chapelle (now called Maison Bleue), which should be enjoyed within five to seven years.

Vinous

Wine rated 94/100

Rated winery (2022 guide) Recommended

James Suckling

Wine rated (2019 guide) 94/100

Rated winery (2022 guide) Recommended

About the wine:

This wine is a blend of two-thirds Marsanne and one-third Roussanne, aged in demi-muids. It features very fresh aromas of peach and pear, with a concentrated, ripe, and juicy palate that offers glycerol and smooth fruit texture. The finish is long, with notes of pear, white peach, and melon. Very well-balanced. Enjoy now or celller.

Jeb Dunnuck

Wine rated 94+/100

Rated winery (2022 guide) Recommended

Customer Rating

4.6/5

based on 18 reviews

Review by Mr. JEAN-MARC D. Published on November 13, 2022

These are truly great Hermitage wines. This one is exceptionally refined and never veers into unwanted woodiness or exaggerated opulence. It features notes of fresh fruit, white flowers, and almond. It’s refined, subtle, and obviously still very tight, almost closed. You absolutely must let it age to fully appreciate it.