Cote Rotie is a prestigious red-wine appellation at the northern tip of France’s Rhône Valley wine region. The Syrah vines on its steep, southeast-facing slopes produce wines which are both powerful and elegant. Improvements in quality have led to increases in demand for the wines – a cycle which turned so consistently that Côte Rôtie wines are now some of France’s most sought-after and most expensive.
Tasting Notes
Colour: Deep shimmering violet.
Aroma: A very attractive nose with sweetly fragrant spices, smoked meat, asphalt, graphite, white pepper and a swathe of ripe purple berries, laced with oak spice.
Palate: The palate has such long, fine tannins. Very sleek, attractive and deep, this offers so much already, but will be best from 2025.
Grape Varieties: 100% Syrah
Awards: 96pts – Wine Advocate-Parker; 94pts – James Suckling; 93pts – Vinous; 91pts – Jeb Dunnuck
History of Paul Jaboulet-Aîné
Paul Jaboulet Aine has been a part of the Rhône Valley wine industry for almost two centuries, beginning with a small plot of land on the hills of Hermitage, before expanding throughout the region. Today, it encompasses more than 100 hectares (250 acres) of vineyards making wines from the northern and southern Rhône, including Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Condrieu and Cornas.
The maison was passed through the Jaboulet family until the purchase by the Frey family in 2006. The Paul Jaboulet Hermitage La Chapelle is the estate’s flagship wine and is one of the most sought-after wines from the Rhône, reaching high prices at auction.
“Because there are no great wines without great grapes”