Jaboulet Aine Gigondas Pierre Aiguille 2017

Paul Jaboulet Aîné has been a trend-setting in the Rhône Valley since 1834. Jaboulet was founded by Antoine Jaboulet, and his twin sons, Paul and Henri continued to expand the family business. The older son (“aîné” in French), Paul, established the company in its present form and gave it his own name. Since then, the company has been run by successive generations of sons from that side of the Jaboulet family.

Today, it is owned by Caroline Frey (Chateau La Lagune) who continues the amazing tradition of excellence across a number of different regions and dozens of vineyards owned by this great winery. Their flagship wine, the La Chapelle Hermitage has been called one of the greatest red wines in all of the world.

But, if you’re looking for a stellar wine to pair with turkey or pizza or whatever, you’re probably not thinking Chateauneuf-du-Pape, especially with the $50+ price tags that most good ones command these days. However, if what draws you to CdP is the complex aromatics and mouth-watering acidity that you find in great Grenache, then today’s Gigondas from Jaboulet accomplishes all of that in spades and for at least half the price of most CdPs you’ll find this good.