Paul Jaboulet-Aîné : Les Cassines 2020

Tasting notes and characteristics of Les Cassines 2020 Paul Jaboulet-Aîné

Tasting

Colour

The colour reveals a brilliant, delicate golden hue.

Nose

The nose reveals a rich and complex bouquet dominated by floral aromas of violets and white flowers, accompanied by notes of exotic fruits such as lychee and pineapple. After aeration, nuances of honey, dried fruits and almond come to enrich the aromatic palette.

Palate

The attack is fresh and mineral, a signature of the granitic terroir of Condrieu. The texture then evolves towards a full, velvety roundness, while retaining an elegant liveliness. The palate offers a remarkable balance between richness and freshness, with flavours of white peach and apricot. The finish proves long and persistent, marked by notes of candied lemon and honey.

Food and wine pairing

This dry white wine pairs ideally with Thai curry, sushi, spring rolls or a langoustine salad with green apples. It also pairs perfectly with warm pan-seared foie gras with mangoes, delicate seafood such as lobster, sole meunière, trout with almonds or soft-ripened cheeses such as camembert or brie.

Service and storage

Les Cassines 2020 should ideally be served at a temperature of around 8 to 10°C.

Other characteristics

This dry white wine fully expresses the characteristic minerality of Condrieu's granitic terroir, while offering the aromatic richness typical of ripe Viognier.

A mineral and elegant Condrieu from the Rhône Valley

The estate

Founded in 1834 in Tain-l'Hermitage by Antoine Jaboulet, the house of Paul Jaboulet-Aîné stands as a benchmark of the northern Rhône Valley. Acquired in 2006 by the Frey family, the estate has undergone a spectacular revival under the direction of Caroline Frey, who converted the entire vineyard of over one hundred hectares to organic and biodynamic farming. Certified biodynamic since 2021, the house is now led by Delphine Frey and Jean-Jacques Frey, continuing the commitment to excellence and respect for terroir. Paul Jaboulet-Aîné produces iconic wines across the most prestigious Rhône appellations, including the legendary Hermitage La Chapelle.

The vineyard

The grapes for Les Cassines come from plots located on the steep slopes of Condrieu, overlooking the Rhône river. The vines grow on south-facing granitic soils, offering optimal exposure for Viognier ripening. Planted between 1993 and 2003, these vines, aged seventeen to twenty-seven years at the time of harvest, benefit from ideal maturity to produce complex and deep grapes. The granitic terroir gives the wine its characteristic minerality, while the south-facing orientation allows for optimal aromatic concentration.

The vintage

The 2020 vintage represents an exceptional year for the Rhône Valley. After a mild winter and a dry spring favouring uniform flowering, the summer proved intensely hot and arid, with the lowest rainfall recorded in over thirty years. Cool nights contrasting with scorching days allowed for favourable thermal regulation, preventing any excessive overripening. Sporadic rains at the end of summer rehydrated the vines, enabling balanced ripening. In Condrieu, the harvest took place from 26 August to 12 September, yielding remarkably clean grapes with high sugar concentration and well-preserved acidity.

Winemaking and aging

The grapes for Les Cassines 2020 are hand-harvested at optimal ripeness in small crates. They undergo whole-bunch pressing to enhance the minerality and freshness of the must. Alcoholic fermentation takes place at low temperature to preserve aromatic integrity, simultaneously in different vessels: French oak barrels, stainless steel tanks and egg-shaped concrete vats. Aging continues for about eight months on fine lees, enriching the wine with proteinaceous compounds and contributing to its velvety texture and aromatic complexity.

Grape variety

100% Viognier