Paul Jaboulet Aîné Le Grand Pompée Saint-Joseph Rouge 2022
A beautifully balanced Saint-Joseph with fine tannins and layered notes of wild redcurrant and raspberry complemented by peppery spice and mineral notes.
The Saint-Joseph vineyard is planted on steep hillsides on the right bank of the River Rhône, that have been carved into terraces since ancient times. It was formerly known as ‘Vin de Mauves’, but the Jesuits gave it its current name in the 17th century. In the 20th century, the winemakers formed a union to protect the Saint-Joseph name and in 1956, the Saint-Joseph appellation became official. The name of this Saint-Joseph cuvée comes from the Victor Hugo’s novel ‘Légende des Siècles’. In the 9th century, the Grand Pompée, faithful companion to Charlemagne, fought at his side against the Moors, on the right bank of the Rhône. A famous line remains from this battle: ‘And wine, that wine beloved of the Grand Pompée’. The vineyard parcels are planted with a southeastern orientation in schist and granite soils, which bring density and texture to the wine. The vines are between 10 to 30 years old, yield 35hl/ha and are manually harvested.
The hand-picked grapes were carefully sorted and then meticulously vinified using traditional methods. Maceration lasted for three weeks with daily pump overs to oxygenate the wine and extract the optimal amount of colour, aromas and fine tannins. The wine was aged for 12 months in French oak barrels.
Domaines Paul Jaboulet Aîné was founded in 1834 and cultivates the iconic terroirs form the northern Rhône Valley across seven appellations. Family owned by the Frey family since 2006, talented winemaker Caroline Frey and her team implement heroic viticulture techniques on the unique, heritage landscapes. Following a long tradition in preserving and working the land, the Frey family are pioneers in biodiversity, with a ninehectare wildlife reserve and ecosystem preservation efforts. Since 2016, the vineyards have been certified AB organic and since 2021 the entire vineyard has been cultivated biodynamically and with a regenerative approach. The variety of soils and multitude of terroirs shape the distinctive character of their wines. Caroline is dedicated to crafting exceptional wines following a philosophy that when the grape varieties are in perfect harmony with the terroir, they reveal their finest expression. These are exquisite wines which beautifully reflect the nuances of their origins.
