Winemaker Notes
From a 7 ha plot in the heart of the original Crozes-Hermitage that was purchased by the Paul Jaboulet family in 1834! Biodynamically farmed, which allows the grapes to be picked earlier than the rest of the appellation to preserve freshness and acidity.
Vines grown on a rock debris from the river L’Isère, with a small base of clay and limestone. Allows for great draining which is ideal for proper maturation of Marsanne and Roussanne
Blend: 50% Marsanne, 50% Roussanne
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
Burgundian notes of crushed citrus, white flowers, salty minerality, orange pith, and honeysuckle all emerge from the 2018 Crozes-Hermitage Domaine Mule Blanche, and it's fresh, medium to full-bodied, concentrated and elegant on the palate.
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James Suckling
Attractive white-peach, banana and melon aromas with a sleek, fresh and fleshy feel to the palate. Supple, long and elegant with apples, papaya and melon in abundance. Good weight and very well balanced. Drink now.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Sourced from Les Chassis near Domaine de Thalabert, the 2018 Crozes Hermitage Mule Blanche (Domaine) is a 50-50 blend of Marsanne and Roussanne. The nose features crushed stone, toasted marshmallow, pear and melon scents, while the medium to full-bodied palate is round without being expansive and crisp without being edgy. While it's not my favorite of the white wines this vintage, it's still a very solid effort.
Full-bodied and flavorful, white Rhône blends originate from France’s Rhône Valley. Today these blends are also becoming popular in other regions. Typically some combination of Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Roussanne and Viognier form the basis of a white Rhône blend with varying degrees of flexibility depending on the exact appellation. Somm Secret—In the Northern Rhône, blends of Marsanne and Roussanne are common but the south retains more variety. Marsanne, Roussanne as well as Bourboulenc, Clairette, Picpoul and Ugni Blanc are typical.
Crozes-Hermitage is Northern Rhone’s largest appellation, surrounding the steep granite faces of Hermitage to its north and south. Here the rolling vineyards are less extreme and its soils, rich in clay-limestone and alluvial matter, produce Syrahs that range from fruity and charming to lush and seductive. The Syrahs of Crozes-Hermitage have more mass than those from St. Joseph but are less intense than those from Hermitage. While many are intended for early consumption, some of the best Syrahs from Crozes-Hermitage will age beautifully for 5-10 years.
Up to 15% of white grapes may theoretically be added to red Crozes at the time of fermentation but whether this is done or not depends on the decision of the winemaker. The best Crozes-Hermitage Syrahs will be fleshy with black fruit (currant, blackberry and black cherry) and bay leaf qualities, notes of tar and stone, and a well-concentrated finish of smooth tannins.
About a tenth of the wine produced in Crozes-Hermitage is white, primarily composed of Marsanne supplemented by smaller amounts of Roussanne.