Paul Jaboulet Aîné Saint Péray Les Sauvagères 2022
A subtle bouquet with mineral notes, gunflint and floral aromas of lime blossom. Refreshing yet generously textured with mineral tones and ripe lemon flavours.
Saint Péray is the southernmost appellation in Northern Rhône Valley situated directly south of Cornas. It was one of the first nine declared AOCs in France in 1936. The appellation is strongly influenced by winds coming from the hills of the Massif Central to the north and the imposing limestone outcrop of the Montagne de Crussol which overlooks the village. This unique geographical position is key to the freshness in SaintPéray whites. The soils are very diverse and complex, but the majority are made up of limestone making this appellation an exception on the right bank of the northern Rhône River. The Marsanne and Roussanne vines were planted in 2000, and yield 40hl/ha. The 'Les Sauvagères' cuvée is named after the grape variety Marsanne because it takes root in its wild, ('Sauvage' in French), state in very steep limestone soils. This limestone content imbues the wines with wonderful purity and elegance.
The grapes were hand-picked, whole bunch pressed and the juice underwent cold settling for two days before being racked. Fermentation took place with selected yeasts and lasted for 10 days. The cuvée was matured for nine months, 1/3 of in French oak barrels, 1/3 in stainless steel tanks and 1/3 in concrete egg-shaped tanks.
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.
