Dans cet article, retrouvez l’ensemble des notes & commentaires attribuées au Domaine Alain Jaume par l’expert en Vallée du Rhône, Jeb Dunnuck, consultant pour Robert Parker.

Une Millésime 2015 fabuleux, à retrouver chez Emy Vintners !

Issue 227, Parker

by Jeb Dunnuck

This sensational estate consistently produces some of the top whites of the appellation (in addition to the reds), and they’ve done well in 2015.

2015, Domaine Grand Veneur Chateauneuf du Pape « Vieilles Vignes »   95 –  98/100

From barrel, the sensationally rich and concentrated 2015 Châteauneuf du Pape “Vieilles Vignes” (50% Grenache, 40% Mourvèdre and 10% Syrah aged in concrete tanks and small barrels) is more polished, elegant and seamless, with blockbuster notes of ripe black fruits, crushed herbs, pepper, plums and violets. You almost need a fork to drink this beauty, yet it’s never heavy or over the top, has incredible purity and present, ripe tannin.

I followed this bottle for two days and it only got better with air. Châteauneuf du Pape lovers shouldn’t miss it!

2015, Domaine Grand Veneur Chateauneuf du Pape « Les Origines »  94 – 96/100

The 2015 Châteauneuf du Pape Les Origines (50% Grenache, 30% Mourvèdre and 20% Syrah aged in a mix of concrete tanks and small barrels) has fabulous notes of crème de cassis, blackberry jam, roasted herbs and graphite. Full-bodied, ultra-pure and with incredibly polished tannin, it’s up with some of the best vintage of this cuvée to date. It will need 2-3 years of cellaring and have two decades of longevity.

2015, Domaine Grand Veneur Chateauneuf du Pape  « Le Miocène » 90 – 92 /100

The 2015 Châteauneuf du Pape Le Miocène is a classic blend of 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 10% Mourvèdre that offers terrific notes of black raspberries, blueberries, violets, pepper and garrigue. It’s a medium to full-bodied, rounded, low acid and sexy beauty to drink on release and over the following 7-8 years. The two special cuvées both see aging in barrels, and I think the estate is doing a better job today with the oak integration than in the past.

2015, Domaine Grand Veneur Chateauneuf du Pape « La Fontaine »   92 – 94+/100

A bigger, richer wine, the 2015 Châteauneuf du Pape La Fontaine Blanc is still aging in barrel and is marginally darker in color than the classic white. Buttered apples, brioche, honeycomb and hint of orange blossom emerge from this full-bodied, concentrated, seriously textured white that has moderate acidity and tons of fruit. It will be interesting to see how this comes together, but it has serious potential.

2015, Domaine Grand Veneur Chateauneuf du Pape  « Le Miocène » 90 /100

Their 2015 Châteauneuf du Pape Le Miocène Blanc is their classic cuvée and is 60% Clairette and 40% Roussanne, all from the Cabrières lieu-dit, and I believe raised mostly in stainless steel. It’s fresh, crisp and classy, with medium-bodied notes of spiced apples, citrus blossom and honeysuckle. Drink this elegant, beautifully pure white over the coming 2-3 years.

2015, Domaine du Clos de Sixte Lirac   91 – 93 /100

The 2015 Lirac Clos de Sixte comes from an appellation that shares a similar terroir with Chateauneuf du Pape, yet is located just across the river, on the western side of the Rhone. It’s a serious, large scaled, voluptuous effort that that has lots of ripe tannin, a bid mid-palate and copious amounts of blackberries, black cherries, scorched earth, licorice and roasted herbs. One of the bigger boned and concentrated reds in the lineup, it will have a decade of longevity.

2015, Domaine Grand Veneur Cotes du Rhône « Les Champauvins »  90 – 92/100

Deeper in color than the Cotes du Rhone Reserve, the 2015 Cotes du Rhone “Les Champauvins” is a solid step up, with fabulously complex notes of Bing cherry, blueberries, raspberries, spring flowers and pepper all emerging from the glass. Medium to full-bodied, rich and beautifully textured, it tastes more like a Chateauneuf du Pape than a Cotes du Rhone. Drink it anytime over the coming 4-5 years.

2015, Domaine Grand Veneur Cotes du Rhône « Blanc de Viognier »  90/100

The outstanding 2015 Cotes du Rhone “Blanc de Viognier” is another killer value. Ample notes of tangerine, crushed rocks, flowers and crisp white peach soar from the glass of this layered, medium-bodied, classy and lengthy white that has both freshness and richness. Drink it over the coming year.

2015, RESERVE Grand Veneur Cotes du Rhône  90/100

A year in, year out value, the 2015 Cotes du Rhone Blanc Reserve is about as pretty, clean and gulpable as they come. Offering fabulous notes of white peach, pear and hints of white flowers, with medium-bodied richness and beautiful purity, it’s a screaming value to drink over the coming year or so. Serious, it’s good.

2015, Château MAZANE, Vacqueyras  90 – 92/100

From a newly purchased estate in Vacqueyras, the Jaume 2015 Vacqueyras Chateau Mazane is similar to the Grande Garrigue, yet has a touch more concentration and purity, and a more focused, streamlined feel on the palate. Asian spices, pepper, lavender, plums and blackberry jam all emerge from this layered, gorgeous red that’s packed with Southern Rhone charm. I prefer the sexiness of the Grande Garrigue a touch more, but both of these 2015 tank samples are beautiful.

2015, Alain JAUME, Vacqueyras « Grande Garrigue »   90 – 92/100

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.

2015, Alain JAUME, Gigondas « Terrasses de Montmirail »    90 – 92/100

Another winner is the 2015 Gigondas “Terrasses de Montmirail”. Coming from higher elevation sites and mostly limestone soils, its vibrant purple color is followed by beautiful spice, black raspberry, kirsch and dried flower-like aromas and flavors. Medium to full-bodied, balanced and polished, with plenty of fruit yet also solid underlying ripe tannic structure, buy a case and enjoy bottles over the coming 7-8 years.

2015, Alain JAUME, Cairanne « Les Travées »  90 – 92/100

From a small appellation located to the north of Vacqueyras, the 2015 Cairanne Les Travées is a big, mouthful of a red and offers copious amounts of blackberries, kirsch, crushed rocks and dried flowers. Full-bodied, layered and downright sexy, with no hard edges and beautiful purity, this Provencal at its best!

2015, Alain JAUME,  Rasteau « Les Valats »   89-91/100

The 2015 Rasteau Les Valats is a big, rich, plum, licorice and scorched earth-scented red that has plenty of mid-palate flesh, building tannin and good freshness and focus. It has plenty of tannin, yet they’re mostly covered by a wealth of fruit. It should drink nicely right out of the gate, yet keep for 8-10 years.

2015, Cotes du Rhone,  Domaine la Grangette Saint Joseph  89-91/100

In addition to the Grand Veneur releases, the Jaume family releases a bevy of high quality wines under their Alain Jaume label. A new wine from a newly purchased estate, the 2015 Côtes du Rhône Domaine de La Grangette Saint Joseph is a seriously good Côtes du Rhône that has loads of raspberries, white pepper, dried spices and earth in its medium to full-bodied, elegant, polished personality. It’s serious stuff and should impress for 5-7 years or more.

2015, Alain JAUME,  Ventoux « Les Gélinottes »   89/100

The estate makes a single release from the Ventoux appellation, which is located on the eastern, southern border of the Southern Rhone. The 2015 Ventoux les Gelinottes offers beautiful purity and freshness, with lots of sappy spring flowers and peppery characteristics intermixed with darker berry fruits, crushed rocks and licorice. Drink this incredibly polished, balanced and layered 2015 anytime over the coming 4-5 years. Like most of these 2015s from the Jaume Brothers, it’s a killer value.