29/11/2017
Robert Parker rates, October 30 2015
By Jeb Dunnuck
“The Jaume family continues to release 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.
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.” JD
2013, Domaine Grand Veneur Chateauneuf du Pape « Vieilles Vignes » 95/100
In the top 1-2 wines of the vintage, the 2013 Châteauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes is a Mourvedre shifted blend of 40% Grenache, 40% Mourvedre and 20% Syrah that saw 16 months in 60% small barrels, with the balance in concrete tanks. There’s just over 400 cases produced and this inky colored, beautifully concentrated effort offers loads of roasted meats, licorice, chocolate and sweet black fruits. Seamless, sexy and seamless, with uncommon polish and ripeness to its tannin, it will have 10-15+ years of longevity.
2013 Domaine Grand Veneur Chateauneuf du Pape « Les Origines » 92/100
Slightly deeper and richer than the classic cuvee Le Miocène, the 2013 Châteauneuf du Pape Cuvee Les Origins is 45% Grenache, 35% Syrah and 20% Mourvedre that spent 16 months in equal parts concrete tank and small barrels. Graphite, lead pencil shavings, black raspberry, cassis and hints of licorice all emerge from this medium to full-bodied, elegant, and surprisingly sweetly fruited Châteauneuf du Pape.
2013 Domaine Grand Veneur Chateauneuf du Pape « Le Miocène » 90/100
The 2013 Châteauneuf du Pape Le Miocène is a solid classic cuvée that made in a polished, pure style. Made from 65% Grenache, 25% Syrah and 10% Mourvedre that saw 70% of the blend in stainless steel and the rest in barrel, it offers lots of black raspberry, creamy licorice, Provençal herbs and a kiss of oak in its medium to full-bodied, nicely concentrated style. While 2013 was a difficult vintage, this is well worth your time and money.
2014 Domaine Grand Veneur Chateauneuf du Pape « La Fontaine » 92/100
One of the top whites from Châteauneuf du Pape is unquestionably the La Fontaine cuvee from the Jaume family. Made from 100% Roussanne, the 2014 Châteauneuf du Pape La Fontaine Blanc sports a medium-gold color to go with fabulous notes of honeysuckle, crème brûlée and citrus. Medium to full-bodied, fresh, clean and crisp, it’s slightly more fresh and focused than normal, but that’s the vintage for the whites. It will be better in 6 months (probably by the time you read this) and have a decade or more of longevity. As always, the safe bet is to enjoy these in the first 5-6 years after the vintage.
2014 Domaine Grand Veneur Chateauneuf du Pape blanc « Le Miocène » 89/100
The 2014 Châteauneuf du Pape Blanc Le Miocène (this is the traditional cuvee, just given a name) is made from 60% Clairette and 40% Roussanne that was raised all in stainless steel. Medium-bodied, fresh and a touch simple by this cuvee’s standard, it offer attractive green citrus, mint, wild herb and hints of minerality. I’d like a touch more depth, but it’s still a beautiful wine.
2013 Domaine Grand Veneur Cotes du Rhône « Les Champauvins » 89/100
The 2013 Côtes du Rhône Les Champauvins continues to impress, and for a difficult vintage, it has tons of charm. Offering lots of earthy black cherry and blackcurrant fruit, underbrush and loam earth, it’s medium-bodied, nicely textured and has solid length. Made from 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 10% Mourvedre that had the Grenache aged in stainless steel and the Syrah and Mourvedre in barrel, drink it anytime over the coming 5-7 years.
2013 Domaine du Clos de Sixte Lirac 90/100
The 2013 Lirac Clos de Sixte is smokin’ good, especially given it’s from the 2013 vintage. Deep ruby/purple in color, with lots of cassis, black raspberry, licorice, toasted spice and a touch of graphite, it ismedium to full-bodied, pure, elegant and layered, with high quality tannin. It’s flat out outstanding and will have 10-12 years of overall longevity.
2013 Château Mazane, Vacqueyras 90/100
The newest cuvee from Vacqueyras and from an estate purchased in 2013, the 2013 Vacqueyras Chateau Mazane checks in as a blend of 60% Grenache, 30% Syrah and 10% Mourvedre that was aged 80% in stainless steel and 20% in smaller barrels. Like with the 2014s, this cuvée is slightly more elegant and pure than the more Provençal and exuberant Vacqueyras Grande Garrigue cuvée. Which you prefer will be more due to preference than any real difference in quality between the two. Black raspberry, toasted spice, cedar and dried herb characteristics all flow nicely to a medium-bodied, elegant Vacqueyras that has fine tannin, good freshness and a clean finish. Drink it anytime over the coming 5-7 years.
2013 Alain JAUME, Vacqueyras « Grande Garrigue » 90/100
Slightly more Provençal than the Vacqueyras Chateau Mazane release, the 2013 Vacqueyras Grande Garrigue is loaded with Provençal herbs, black fruits, licorice and loamy earth-like aromas and flavors. Medium to full-bodied, classically styled and fruit forward, this blend of 60% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 10% Mourvedre and the reset Cinsault can be drunk today, or cellared for 4-5 years.
2013 Alain JAUME, Gigondas « Terrasses de Montmirail » 90+/100
While Gigondas struggled in 2014, the 2013s were surprisingly successful. The 2013 Gigondas Terrasses de Montmirail is nicely concentrated and structured, with lots of classic graphite, smoked earth, mineral and black fruit characteristics on both the nose and palate. Made from 80% Grenache, 15% Syrah and 5% Mourvedre, it has excellent purity of fruit, good acidity and fine tannin, all of which should keep it drinking nicely through 2024.
2013 Alain JAUME, Cairanne « Les Travées » 88/100
The 2013 Cairanne Les Travées is a classic wine from warm terroir. Made from 65% Grenache, 30% Syrah and a splash of Mourvedre, it offers lots of plums, licorice and floral notes in a charming, rounded, easy drinking style. It’s best consumed over the coming 4-5 years.
2014 Réserve Grand Veneur Cotes du Rhône rouge 88/100
Already in bottle, and a perennial value, the 2014 Côtes du Rhône Reserve is a pure, medium-bodied, elegant blend of 60% Grenache, 35% Syrah and 5% Cinsault. Offering up lots of textbook black and red raspberry fruit, crushed herbs and hints of flowers, its purity of fruit really sets it apart. Drink it over the coming 3-4 years.
2014 Alain JAUME, Ventoux « Les Gélinottes » 88/100
The 2014 Cotes du Ventoux Les Gélinottes is a pretty, pure and elegant red made from 50% Grenache and 50% Syrah. Aged all in stainless steel, it offers plenty of charm in its sappy herbs, white pepper, cherry and raspberry-laced bouquet. This gives way to a medium-bodied, fresh, clean and classy Ventoux that is ideal for drinking over the coming 4-5 years.
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