The Maison Paul Jaboulet Aîné was created in 1834 through the magical conjunction of a fertile land on a hillside by the Rhone and a family with a passion for winemaking.

Famed through the Hermitage La Chapelle, over the years the Domaines Paul Jaboulet Aîné took ownership of the finest appellations of the northern Rhone Valley, applying organic and biodynamic principles since taken over by the Frey family, ensuring a legacy in both vineyards and incredible wines.

A legendary cru… Over centuries, this mythical cru has built its reputation on a single hill, and an epic history. In the beginning, the hill was home to a hermitage founded by Henri Gaspard de Sterimberg in 1224. This knight, returning from the Albigensian Crusade, and weary of bloodshed, asked permission to Blanche of Castille to take refuge from the world on the summit of this granite hill. Soon joined by others, the community began to plant vines… A charming tale, but one that overlooks the fact that the Hermitage owes only its name to the hermit: the vineyard has existed since ancient times with the famous wines of Vienne.

The first vintage of this cuvee was 2001, renamed the Maison Bleue from 2015 vintage and takes its name from our little stone house used as a shelter to winegrowers located at the heart of the Murets.

Grape Variety – 100% Syrah

Winemaking: At perfect maturity, the Syrah grapes are picked by hand and carried in small crates to the winery, the grapes are hand-sorted, destemmed and slightly crushed. The maceration on the skin lasts 3 to 4 weeks with daily pump-overs. La Petite Chapelle is aged in oak in the cellar for 15 to 18 months. Oak barrels are French and are renewed at the level of 20% every year. The final blends are done after the end of the ageing and done through judicious selection from the different terroirs of Hermitage in order to give La Chapelle its own character of softness, texture and balance.

Glass-staining ruby. Bright, mineral-accented red and dark berry aroma are complicated by notes of fresh violet and spice cake. At once concentrated and lithe, offering vibrant black raspberry and bitter cherry flavours that pick up smokiness and sweetness of air. Quite graceful for a young Hermitage, with a light touch that reminds me of Côte-Rotie. Closes spicy and very long with building flora and smooth tannins sneaking in late

Food pairing – Quail stuffed foie gras, duck breast with cherries, milk-fed lamb en croûte de foin.

Robert Parker Wine Advocate – 91 points

The 2013 Hermitage la Petite Chapelle is more forward and approachable than the grand vin, giving up lots of granite-induced minerality, smoked earth, bouquet garni and assorted dark fruits in its medium to full-bodied, nicely concentrated, layered style. Coming from a mix of parcels and aged 15-18 months in roughly 20% new French oak, its should evolve gracefully for 10-15 years.

Caroline Frey and winemaker Jacques Desvernois continue to make a bevy of high quality wines from throughout the Rhône Valley. Both their 2014s and 2013s show the vintage character nicely, and the wines show fresher, more elegant profiles without sacrificing too much density and depth. I’d like a touch more flesh and texture in a few of these latest releases, but there’s no denying the high quality coming from this estate today.