France·Landmark·$$$$

Paul Jaboulet Aîné

Historic Tain-l'Hermitage house whose Hermitage La Chapelle is one of the Northern Rhône's most legendary wines.

Founded
1834, by Antoine Jaboulet in Tain-l'Hermitage
Ownership
Frey family (Compagnie Financière Frey), acquired January 2006
Price tier
$$$$
Annual production
Not publicly disclosed; flagship Hermitage La Chapelle reported reduced to around 2,000 cases under the Frey era, with estate holdings of approximately 125 hectares across the northern and southern Rhône
Primary appellation
Hermitage AOC
Cross-references
7

About Paul

Founded in 1834 by Antoine Jaboulet in Tain-l'Hermitage, Paul Jaboulet Aîné took its name from Antoine's elder son Paul (Aîné meaning 'elder'). The house built its reputation on Hermitage La Chapelle, named for the small chapel of Saint-Christophe atop the hill, with legendary vintages such as 1961 ranking among the greatest wines ever made in the Rhône. After decades of family management, and following a period of decline in the late 1990s, the estate was acquired in January 2006 by Jean-Jacques Frey's Compagnie Financière Frey. Under the Frey family, with Caroline Frey leading the winemaking, Jaboulet converted to organic and biodynamic farming and restored La Chapelle to critical acclaim. The house draws on holdings across both the northern Rhône (Hermitage, Côte-Rôtie, Crozes-Hermitage) and southern appellations, producing a broad portfolio anchored by its iconic Hermitage reds and whites.

Flagship wines

  • Hermitage La Chapelle
  • Hermitage Le Chevalier de Sterimberg (blanc)
  • Crozes-Hermitage Domaine de Thalabert

Editorial notes

Practical guidance

Hermitage La Chapelle is built for the cellar—best vintages need a decade-plus and generous decanting before serving.

Cross-references

Related appellations

Related cities

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