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Established in the northern part of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, the Jaume family has been making wine since 1826 when Mathieu Jaume started harvesting grapes. Since 1979, Alain Jaume has run the Domaine, now with the help of his two sons, Sébastien and Christophe, and daughter Helene. Vignobles Alain-Jaume continues to be one of Kysela’s top producers.
Winemaking in this region dates back to the 14th century when the papal see was moved to Avignon. A papal castle, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, was built to house seven successive popes between 1309 and 1377. Impressed by the area’s exceptional terroir surrounding the castle, Pope Jean XXII planted the first vines of Châteauneuf-du-Pape in 1320. Interestingly, the wine that gave Châteauneuf-du-Pape its original reputation was the white and not the red. The white wine was a favorite of Pope Innocent VI.
Today the castle is now an historic monument in Avignon, and the papacy is based in Rome’s Vatican City. But the pope’s coat of arms displayed on the bottles of Châteauneuf-du-Pape still remains, and the wines are still more or less produced in the same manner as when the popes first pressed their juice.
The estate is located in the commune of Orange on the northern border of the southern Rhone, and consists of 90 hectares (225 acres) covering different appellations: Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Côtes-du-Rhône 'Les Champauvins' & Côtes-du-Rhône, Lirac and Vacqueyras. Estate labels include Grand Veneur, Clos de Sixte and Château Mazane. A third label is under Negociant Alain Jaume and include the following AOC's: Rasteau, Vacqueyras, Gigondas, Cairanne, Ventoux.
Production figures for the Estate label (Alain Jaume's own vineyards):
- Cotes du Rhone Champauvins: 9,000 cases
- Lirac Rouge Domaine du Clos de Sixte: 5,000 cases
- Chateauneuf du Pape Rouge Grand Veneur: 3,300 cases
- Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc Grand Veneur: 400 cases
- Chateauneuf du Pape Les Origines red: 1,700 cases
- Chateauneuf du Pape La Fontaine white: 300 cases
- Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes: 530 cases
- Vacqueyras Chateau Mazane: 1,300 cases
Both Grand Veneur and Clos de Sixte vineyards are grown in accordance with certified organic agricultural practices. The soils are maintained exclusively by light plowing and fertilized with vegetal compost. The vines are only sprayed when there are justified risks to the health of the vines, and only organic-permitted treatments are used. Yields are low, or kept under control by green-harvesting. This method, carried out by hand in summer, provides optimum sun exposure for the best clusters and enables the winery to be selective on both quantity and quality of the grapes. Harvesting is by hand, from pruning the leaves to aerate the clusters to picking and sorting grapes and selecting only the best to press.
Once grapes are hand sorted, they are immediately transferred to the cellar to be crushed, de-stemmed and cooled before being placed in vats. Following a careful maturation, the wines undergo only a light clarification to allow unique terroir characteristics of each wine to remain.
Among the 13 grapes grown on the estate properties, six stand out
The Reds
The trio of Black Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre is blended to produce the range of red wines; each adding depth and character personality to the wine:
Black Grenache constitutes the backbone of the wine, bringing both suppleness and richness
Syrah intensifies the aroma, tannins and deep purple color
Mouvedre adds complexity with ripe black fruit aromas, refined tannins and greater aging potential
Red wines are aged in underground temperature controlled cellars at 59º F for 14 months. Grenache is aged in thick concrete vats to preserve the subtle aromas yet powerful flavors of the fruit. Syrah and Mouvedre are aged in French oak barrels to soften the tannins and enhance the black fruit aromas and spice finish. Stored in good condition, these red wines will benefit from longer aging, While many will show well after three years in bottle, some of the single vineyards and old vine wines may show well for 30-40 years. Natural sediments that may appear when decanting these wines is a sign of their richness and vitality
The Whites
The white grape varietals are like three muses working in harmony to create classic white Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines
Clairette brings freshness and elegance, together with aromas of dried fruit and delicate floral notes
Roussanne offers headier aromas of honey, quince, and gives the wines their full-bodied character and a spicy richness on the palate
Viognier, known for its aromatic qualities, imparts subtle notes of pear and white peach and adds a delightful freshness to this delicious white wine.
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"The Jaume family continues to releases a massive lineup of high quality wines from throughout the Southern Rhône. In 2013 they purchased the Chateau Mazane estate in Vacqueyras, and while a large portion of their Vacqueyras Grande Garrigue came from this estate, they now also release a 100% estate Vacqueyras Chateau Mazane that’s all from the new property. It’s a cellar selection over the Grande Garrigue and sees a slightly different élevage, but I find the quality between the two cuvees similar. The only other new change is the addition of the Le Miocène label to their traditional red and white Châteauneuf du Pape releases. Le Miocène translates to “beginning of an era”, but there is no change to the actual wine. At the end of the day, you can’t go wrong here and the portfolio is packed with both quality and value. - Jeb Dunnuck"
- Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate (Issue 221, October 2015)
Wine Advocate (Issue #209, October 2013)
Wine Advocate (Issue #195, June 2011)
The Vacqueyras appellation is located right next to Gigondas. It mostly stretches on the Sarrians territory, where stands the famous plateau named “Les Garrigues”. The area is made of clay and rocks. The beautiful “garrigue” landscape is typical of the Mediterranean area. The wine itself displays aromas of spices, dried herbs...you will taste the “Garrigue” in your glass. Welcome to Provence!
Deep and intense color. Aromas of fresh black fruits and dried herbs. On the palate, the richness of the tannins harmonizes with the smoothness of the wine. The finish is long, with spice aromas and licorice. A typical wine from the specific terroir called "Les Garrigues".
Drinks best between 1 and 7 years.
folder Click Here for List of Downloadable Documents.
| Item Number | Unit | Units/Case | Type | UPC - bottle | SCC - case | SRP/Unit |
| F0EE137263GRM | 750ml | 12 | Glass | 7 84585 00314 3 | 1 07 84585 00314 0 | $28.99 |
Traditional winemakeing methods, temperature controlled fermentation. Long soaking on the skins. Bottling after 14 months.
"Slightly more fresh/bright than the Mazane, the 2015 Vacqueyras Grande Garrigue (Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault, and Mourvèdre) offers pure, clean notes of blackberries, plums, peppery herbs and garrigue. Balanced, medium to full-bodied, nicely textured and with moderate tannin, it's going to keep through 2025."
- Jeb Dunnuck (October 2017), 91 pts
"The plump, sexy and fruit-loaded 2015 Vacqueyras Grande Garrigue offers a smorgasbord of Provencal aromas and flavors, with notes of blackberry jam, peppered meats, toasted bread and Asian spice all jumping from the glass. Similar in style to the Cairanne, yet with additional tannic grip, this full-bodied, supple and polished beauty is another no-brainer value from this estate to snatch up. - Jeb Dunnuck"
- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (Issue 227, October 2016), 90-92 pts
"This is named both for the Plateau des Garrigues, and expanse of limestone and clay covered in galets roulés just north of Sarrians, as well as for the fragrant brush that grows among the stones. Those scents are front and center in this wine, bringing freshness to its dark, gravelly fruit. It feels like it was grown in a forest, the fruit ripe but cool, pristine in its balance."
- Wine & Spirits Magazine (February 2017), 92 pts and Year's Best Rhone
"Plump black cherry and plum fruit flavors are carried by caressing structure, picking up dark tea and anise notes on the friendly finish. Drink now. 1,500 cases made."
- Wine Spectator (web only 2016), 88 pts
"Ruby-red. Bright, highly perfumed aromas of red berry liqueur and garrigue, with a smoky top note building slowly. Tangy, precise raspberry and bitter cherry flavors show good energy and back-end lift. Finishes clean, focused and spicy, with silky tannins and resonating red berry character. This suave, fruit-forward wine bears a strong resemblance to a ripe Pinot Noir. - Josh Raynolds"
- Antonio Galloni's Vinous (May 2015), 90-92 pts
"Fleshy and open, with a light cocoa frame around the juicy blackberry and raspberry confiture notes. A graphite hint on the finish keeps this honest. A crowd-pleaser. Drink now. 1,500 cases made. –JM"
- Wine Spectator (October 15th 2015), 89 pts
- Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate (Issue 215, October 2014), 88-90 pts
"Representing a superb value, the Alain Jaume 2012 Vacqueyras Grande Garrigue is a tank-aged blend of 80% Grenache, 15% Syrah and 5% Mourvedre. It exhibits gorgeous notes of black raspberry, ground herbs, violets and pepper, medium to full-bodied richness and an overall rich, layered personality. More than a little impressive, it should have a solid 7-8 years of longevity. Drink now-2020.- JD"
Wine Advocate (Issue #209, October 2013), 89-92pts
Go To Alain Jaume Vacqueyras Grande Garrigue
"The outstanding Alain Jaume 2011 Vacqueyras Grande Garrigue is primarily Grenache blended with smaller quantities of Syrah, Mourvedre and Cinsault from the high Les Garrigues plateau. Sweet black cherry aromas intermixed with licorice, loamy soil and Provencal herbs are followed by a full-bodied, opulent, decadently rich wine that should drink well for 3-4 years. Vacqueyras continues to over-deliver as an appellation. - RP"
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (Issue #208, August 2013), 91pts + BEST BUY
Go To Alain Jaume Vacqueyras Grande Garrigue
"A perennially attention-worthy wine, the Jaume family's Grande Garrigue Vacqueyras combines bold black cherry fruit with spicy notes suggestive of licorice root and bay leaf. It's full bodied and round in the mouth, but the fruit remains fresh, ending on a mouthwatering note of acidity. Drink now–2018. - Joe Czerwinski"
Wine Enthusiast (Best of Year Issue / December 2013), 90pts + Editor's Choice
Go To Alain Jaume Vacqueyras Grande Garrigue
"A perennial winner, Grande Garrigue is a medium- to full-bodied wine with supple tannins and ample cherry fruit. This vintage shows a hint of asphalt upfront, then dark tones of earth and chocolate on the velvety finish. Drink now–2022. - Joe Czerwinski"
- Wine Enthusiast (Best of Year Issue / December 2013), 91pts + Editor's Choice
Go To Alain Jaume Vacqueyras Grande Garrigue
