Domaine Philippe et Vincent Jaboulet

Domaine Philippe et Vincent Jaboulet was established in 2006 following the sale of the historic family business, Maison Paul Jaboulet Aîné. Philippe Jaboulet had previously served as the manager and technical director for that firm for 30 years, overseeing vineyard operations and grape purchasing. When the larger estate was sold to the Frey family, Philippe and his son Vincent, a sixth generation winemaker who studied in France and Australia, chose to start an independent venture. They began by retaining 15 hectares of their original family vineyards and acquired a further 15 hectares to form a singular 30 hectare estate.

The vineyards are primarily located in the Crozes-Hermitage appellation near the village of Mercurol, where the soils consist of deep alluvial layers of rolled pebbles and red clay. The estate also manages plots in the Hermitage and Cornas appellations. Farming is conducted according to sustainable methods, avoiding insecticides and weedkillers, which led to the domaine receiving HVE Level 3 certification in 2016. Their philosophy involves promoting biodiversity by installing nesting boxes for bats and birds and maintaining beehives throughout the vineyard. Winemaking takes place in a gravity-fed cellar where red wines are typically raised in a combination of tanks and oak vessels of various sizes, with an emphasis on preserving fruit purity.

The signature wine of the domaine is the Crozes-Hermitage Nouvelère, sourced from the oldest vines in their possession. These Syrah vines, some over 80 years old, were planted during World War II in a portion of the original Thalabert vineyard. Because they no longer owned the Thalabert trademark after the sale of the family business, they named the wine Nouvelère to represent a new era for the family. Other notable productions include an Ermitage red from the Les Dionnières parcel and a white Crozes-Hermitage produced from 100 percent Marsanne. Through these holdings, the estate maintains a reputation for high quality production that emphasizes the specific granite and loess geologies of the Northern Rhône.