Paul Jaboulet Crozes Hermitage Domaine de Thalabert 2015《Terroir Collection - ZTF168》

Region : Crozes Hermitage

Grapes : Syrah

Alcohol : 13.5% vol

Website: https://jaboulet.com/

🏅 James Suckling 93 pts

Domaine Paul Jaboulet Aine is the most famous and representative winery in the Rhône Valley of France. It was founded by Mr. Antoine Jaboulet in 1834 and has now developed into a super winery with hundreds of hectares of vineyards and an annual wine production of nearly 4 million bottles.Domaine Paul Jaboulet Aine originated from the Hermitage Mountains. In 1834, Mr. Antoine began to devote himself to planting grapes in this area, and since then he has linked his life with this land. With his passion for winemaking and unremitting efforts, the quality of the wine produced by the winery has become more and more excellent, and it has continued to his sons Paul and Henri. Paul even added his own name "Paul" to the name of the winery, and the name Domaine Paul Jaboulet Aine has been used until now. After that, the Jaboulet family continued to operate the winery and maintain the high standards of the winery until 2006 when the Frey family obtained partial management rights of the winery. The Frey family has long been winemakers in the Champagne region and is the owner of Chateau La Lagune in Bordeaux.

The vineyards of Domaine Paul Jaboulet Aine in Hermitage are located on terraces at an altitude of 130 to 250 meters. The soil in the lower part is sand, gravel and gravel, and the higher part is brown soil and rocky soil. The area of ​​the vineyard is only 26 hectares. In addition to 5 hectares of vineyards planted with white grape varieties, there are only 21 hectares of red grapes planted, scattered near the chapel at the top of the Hermitage hill. 6,000 Syrah vines are planted per hectare, with an average age of 45 years and a wine production of 3,000 liters per hectare. Not only grapes are planted on the Hermitage hill, but also cherries, raw pears and other fruits in the same proportion. Planting fruits around the vineyard often gives the grapes the aroma of the same fruits.In 1919, Domaine Paul Jaboulet Aine bought Hermitage La Chapelle. Its top red wine, Hermitage La Chapelle Red Wine, has been listed as one of the most outstanding red wines in the world. Made from 100% Syrah and aged in oak barrels for 18 months, it is known as a model wine with extraordinary quality and amazing potential of Syrah in the Rhône Valley. Hermitage La Chapelle Red Wine produces only 2,500 bottles per year, and it is said that the quota for the Asian market is only 400 bottles. The wine was discontinued in 1961 and was produced again after 2006.

Domaine Paul Jaboulet Aine adheres to the rigorous winemaking tradition and respect for nature. The yield per hectare does not exceed 4,000 liters, and each gardener carefully cares for no more than 2.5 hectares of vineyards, which is three times less than the average vineyard. In addition, the unique long neck, dark color and calm design of the wine bottle enable the wine to be preserved for a longer time. Domaine Paul Jaboulet Aine is now exported to more than 70 countries. High-quality grapes and exquisite brewing techniques have created elegant but affordable wines, perfectly presenting the fullness, strength and rich and varied characteristics of the Rhône Valley wines. Domaine Paul Jaboulet Aine is unique in that it hollowed out a 20-meter-high hill into a 10-meter-high cave as a natural wine cellar. Not only is there a natural low temperature here, but the stalactites in the cave are staggered, which makes people dazzled.

Crozes Hermitage is one of the largest wine regions in the northern part of the Rhône Valley in France, and Domaine de Thalabert has been owned by Paul Jaboulet since 1834 and is famous for its fine wines.Domaine de Thalabert is located in the flatter area of ​​Crozes Hermitage and is the oldest vineyard in the region. The estate covers an area of ​​40 hectares, and the surface is mainly alluvial stones; these small and round stones can absorb heat during the day and dissipate heat at night, allowing the grapes to mature more perfectly. Winemaker Caroline regards the vineyard as a complete "bear system". In order to maintain biodiversity, she resolutely does not use fertilizers and herbicides, and uses natural plants and animals as soil fertilizers to manage the vineyard for a long time. Currently, Hermitage and Crozes Hermitage production areas are both planted using biodynamic methods.The whole process is hand-picked, and the single-chamber extraction is gentle after four weeks of fermentation. Aged in 15% new French oak barrels.

🏅 Vinous 94 pts

Inky ruby. Suave, mineral-accented scents of ripe blueberry, black currantand Indian spices, along with a slowly emerging floral component. Plushbroad and deeply concentrated, displaying black and blue fruit, licoriceand mocha flavors that are energized by an intense, peppery overtone.Finishes extremely long, fleshy and sweet, delivering intense mineral thrust,a subtle cracked pepper nuance and youthful, building tannins.

🏅 Wine Advocate 93+ pts

The 2015 Crozes Hermitage Domaine de Thalabert is a super effort, packed with savory notes of black olives and crushed stones. It's full-bodied and rich, with a hint of cedary oak, but there's plenty of fruit and ripe tannins on the lingering finish. Like some of those fine Thalabert vintages of the past, it should drink well for a couple of decades.

🏅 James Suckling 93 pts

Smooth, impressive flesh and weight. Graphite-like stony minerally aromas with dark cherries and darker plums, the oak adding cedary woody notes. The palate has an impressive plushness as well as assertive tannins below. Extremely defined, pure and attractive. A great vintage. Best from 2019 and for a decade at least.