Domaine Grand Veneur Cotes du Rhone Les Champauvins 2017
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Robert
Parker -
Jeb
Dunnuck
Product Details
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Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Intense, brilliant garnet-red color. It reveals lovely fruit, loads of body and a heady bouquet of ground peppers, raspberries cherry liqueur, currants, and spice box. Full-bodied and dense; rich and elegant.
Blend: 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 10% Mourvedre
Pair this wine alongside grilled meat or vegetables. It is also delicious with cheese, such as Camembert, Brie and Gouda.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2017 Cotes du Rhone les Champauvins was yet to be bottled at the time of my June visit. This value stalwart looks reassuringly excellent, with garrigue accents layered over raspberry fruit. It's medium to full-bodied, with a bit of silky tannin and a long, mouthwatering finish. It should drink well for at least 6-7 years.
Rating: 90-92
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Jeb Dunnuck
Deeper colored, the 2017 Côtes Du Rhône Les Champauvins competes with many Châteauneuf Du Papes, offering beautiful black cherries, blackberries, crushed flowers, and ground pepper aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied, silky, elegant, and fabulous texture, it's another winner to seek out and enjoy over the coming 4-5 years.
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Established in the northern part of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, in the commune of Orange, the Jaume family has been dedicated to the art of wine growing since 1826. Founded by Mathieu Jaume, the Domaine is now run by the 5th and 6th generations of Jaumes: Alain Jaume & his children Christophe, Sébastien, and Hélène.
Historically, Domaine Grand Veneur was known for its white wines, until 1995 when the winery refocused their efforts on the reds. The estate now measures 225 acres and covers four appellations: Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Côtes-du-Rhône 'Les Champauvins' & Côtes-du-Rhône (Rouge, Blanc & Rosé), Lirac, and Vacqueyras.
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.
"There are few better run estates in the world than that of the Jaume Family’s Domaine Grand Veneur," - Jeb Dunnuck
" ...the overall standard of quality is high, and Americans have learned to trust Alain Jaume et Fils—with good reason" - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
With bold fruit flavors and accents of sweet spice, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre form the base of the classic Rhône Red Blend, while Carignan, Cinsault and Counoise often come in to play. Though they originated from France’s southern Rhône Valley, with some creative interpretation, Rhône blends have also become popular in other countries. Somm Secret—Putting their own local spin on the Rhône Red Blend, those from Priorat often include Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. In California, it is not uncommon to see Petite Sirah make an appearance.
Typically thought of as a baby Chateâuneuf-du-Pape, the term Côtes du Rhône actually doesn’t merely apply to the flatter outskirts of the major southern Rhône appellations, it also includes the fringes of well-respected northern Rhône appellations. White wines can be produced under the appellation name, but very little is actually made.
The region offers some of the best values in France and even some first-rate and age-worthy reds. Red wine varieties include most of the Chateâuneuf-du-Pape varieties like Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, Cinsault, and Counoise, as well as Carignan. White grapes grown include Grenache blanc, Roussanne and Viognier, among others.