Paul Jaboulet Aine La Maison Bleue Hermitage 2021

The pretty Maison Bleue lies near the Petite Pierrelle street, not far from the stream of Torras and the road where the blackbirds sing. Leaning against the Hermitage Hill, a beautiful vineyard, this small stone house with blue shutters was once a real haven of peace for the winegrowers: a place to work, rest and share in the heart of a legendary terroir. Today, this winegrower’s house has regained a new youth; it is where growers and horses take shelter from time to time. The old, low-yielding vines in the vineyard were planted from 1955 to 1994 and yield between 25 to 35 hl/ha. Grown at 190 metres elevation, with a southerly exposure, they are mostly trained according to the Cordon de Royat method, with some Gobelet bush vines trained on stakes. They are planted on the easternmost terroirs of the hill, where the soils are deeper. The soils are linked to the river terraces of the Rhône, composed of limestone on colluvium. The entire vineyard is certified organic and cultivated with respect for the soil and the living ecosystem. Viticulture is viewed as a long-term endeavour, a continuous quest to regenerate the environmental sphere, thus providing the means for terroir-driven fine wines to shine.