Three prominent figures from the Northern Rhône Valley are behind the new venture "Domaine & Maison Les Alexandrins": Nicolas Jaboulet, a sixth-generation member of a winemaking family that settled in Tain l'Hermitage in 1834; Guillaume Sorrel, son of Marc Sorrel of Domaine Sorrel in Hermitage; and Alexandre Caso, an expert on the terroirs of the Northern Rhône Valley. They met in 2012 when Nicolas Jaboulet (head of Maison Nicolas Perrin, founded in 2007) and Guillaume Sorrel and Alexandre Caso (both of whom founded Domaine Les Alexandrins in Mercurol in 2009) introduced single-plot vineyard management in Crozes-Hermitage for Maison Nicolas Perrin wines. Their combined expertise in terroir and winemaking has shaped the history of the Northern Rhône Valley. All three share a passion for the great wines of their region and quickly developed further ambitious goals. In 2014, Alexandre and Guillaume wanted to further develop their wines at Domaine Les Alexandrins. At the same time, Nicolas aimed to establish his company, Maison Nicolas Perrin, in the heart of the Northern Rhône Valley. This shared ambition ultimately led to closer collaboration between the three men. Since 2015, Maison Nicolas Perrin has held a majority stake in Domaine Les Alexandrins, resulting in the name change to "Domaine et Maison Les Alexandrins." This collaboration allowed Domaine Les Alexandrins to continue pursuing its dream of producing classical wines from the Northern Rhône Valley, while simultaneously transforming Maison Nicolas Perrin into Maison Les Alexandrins, thus expanding its renowned range of high-quality wines to include all appellations of the Northern Rhône Valley.

Nicolas Jaboulet, Guillaume Sorrel, and Alexandre Caso unearth treasures here, often forgotten or old vines on exceptional terroirs, and create the finest expression of the appellation. The three men benefit from the skill and experience of their parents and grandparents. Therefore, in their vision, the Domaine must produce wines that reflect the Crozes-Hermitage and Saint-Joseph appellations, with their vines on historic terroirs, in their purest form. The Domaine is thus limited in several respects: in terms of the appellations (Crozes-Hermitage, Saint-Joseph) and in terms of volume. Work is carried out parcel by parcel. The vines are cultivated as they were in the past, entirely in keeping with the tradition of the regional winemakers. This applies to the over 70-year-old Syrah vines in Crozes-Hermitage, but also to the over 90-year-old, forgotten vines in Tournon (Saint-Joseph). And every year – whether the harvest is complete or not – Domaine Les Alexandrins employs practices that are often forgotten in the northern Rhône Valley today. These two exclusive wines from Crozes-Hermitage and Saint-Joseph perfectly embody classicism.

Maison Les Alexandrins is the natural evolution of the former Maison Nicolas Perrin. The company had already enjoyed extraordinary success since 2007 – among other accolades, it was named Wine Merchant of the Year 2011 by the French magazine Revue du Vin de France – and has consistently developed in the Northern Rhône Valley by relying on highly experienced individuals and focusing on a single estate: Domaine Les Alexandrins, located in the heart of the Crozes-Hermitage appellation. The wines of Maison Les Alexandrins therefore reflect all the work done at the estate. They are more modern in their presentation (since there is a small number of wines from the estate, other wines are also offered, which was not previously common practice); they are more contemporary in their style (the aim is perfect harmony even in young wines, thus offering early drinking pleasure); and they are more diverse in their selection of wines from the Northern Rhône Valley (not just Crozes-Hermitage and Saint-Joseph). This selection invites wine lovers worldwide to view and appreciate the traditions of the Northern Rhône Valley from a fresh perspective. The range comprises both contemporary and timeless wines from an exceptional terroir discovered by Northern Rhône Valley terroir expert Alexandre Caso. Eight distinct wines embody this revived classicism.

Manufacturer: Nicolas Jaboulet, Maison Nicolas Perrin, 29 Côte des Chapeliers, 26000 Valence, France

Grape variety: Marsanne 100%
Alcohol content: 13% vol.