KYSELA® Domaine Grand Veneur (Alain Jaume & Fils) – 6057330933919

In 1320 Pope Jean XXII planted the first vines of Chateauneuf-du-Pape, but it was only in 1360 that the wines of the region first gained fame. Oddly, the wine that gave Chateauneuf-du-Pape its original reputation was the Blanc and not the Rouge. The white wine was a favorite of Pope Innocent VI. The Domaine dates back to 1826, having been founded at that time by Mathieu Jaume. Since 1979, Alain Jaume has run the Domaine and now has the help of his two sons: Sebastien and Christophe.

“Popes throughout history have liked their juice, and when the papacy moved to Avignon in the 13th century, that juice was Chateauneuf-du-Pape (“the pope’s new castle”) made from grapes grown nearby in the Southern Rhone. The castle is a ruin now, the papal court long gone back to Rome, but the wines that bear the pope’s coat of arms emblazoned on the bottle are still produced more or less according to the long-standing recipe. Not every winemaker uses all 13 of the grapes in the proscribed blend, though. At Domaine Grand Veneur, an estate that dates to 1826, Alain Jaume and his sons Sebastien and Christophe emphasize Grenache blended with Syrah and Mourvedre.”
– Los Angeles Times

“Improved Chateauneuf with very accomplished, stylish reds since the late 1990s; also very good Vacqueyras and Cotes-du-Rhone Villages.” – Anthony Dias Blue’s pocket guide to wine 2006

The vineyard is located on slopes and plateaux.
The soil is made of clay and sand, covered with pebble.
Yield: 30 Hl / hectare
18 days of vatting with pigeages.
50 % Grenache, 35 % Syrah, 15 % Mourvedre

An intense red garnet color. On the nose, aromas of red and black ripe fruit (kirsch and wild blackberry). The mouth is full, with aromas of blackcurrant liqueur and spice. Tannins are both harmonious and elegant thanks to the fleshiness of the wine. Hints of licorice and vanilla on the finish, which gives the wine length and complexity.