2010 Domaine Grand Veneur CDP Vieilles Vignes Proprietary Blend

2010 Domaine Grand Veneur CDP Vieilles Vignes

100 RP

From the critics:

99 JD

95 VM

93 WS

Featured Review

A monumental effort meriting a perfect score, the super-rich 2010 Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes is a 4,000-bottle blend of 50% Grenache, 40% Mourvedre and 10% Syrah from 55- to 105-year-old vines and was aged for 18 months in small oak. The wine offers majestic blackberry and cassis fruit intermixed with kirsch, licorice and subtle Provencal herbs in the background. It is akin to chewing meat in the mouth given its viscosity and thickness. This utterly amazing wine comes close to being over the top, but it pulls back just in time. A massive Chateauneuf du Pape (even for a 2010), it needs 5-6 years of cellaring and should age effortlessly for 25-30 years. Bravo! With impressive holdings in the northern sector of Chateauneuf du Pape as well as an ever expanding, high quality negociant business, brothers Christophe and Sebastian Jaume have taken this estate, established in 1826, to new heights. The estate wines, which are sold under the Domaine Grand Veneur label, are classic, quasi-modern-styled Chateauneuf du Papes that represent brilliant examples of their impeccable viticulture and winemaking. Interestingly, all three cuvees of Chateauneuf du Pape were produced in 2011. That decision appears to be justified by the quality of what I tasted as well as their potential for extended maturity beyond a decade. As for the 2010s, the Alain Jaume offerings and the Domaine Grand Veneur Cotes du Rhone cuvees were all reviewed in my report on the wines of Kysela Pere et Fils in Issue #201. The 2010 Domaine Grand Veneur estate wines, especially the Chateauneuf du Papes, are brilliant. Robert Parker

Robert Parker | 100 RP

A monumental effort meriting a perfect score, the super-rich 2010 Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes is a 4,000-bottle blend of 50% Grenache, 40% Mourvedre and 10% Syrah from 55- to 105-year-old vines and was aged for 18 months in small oak. The wine offers majestic blackberry and cassis fruit intermixed with kirsch, licorice and subtle Provencal herbs in the background. It is akin to chewing meat in the mouth given its viscosity and thickness. This utterly amazing wine comes close to being over the top, but it pulls back just in time. A massive Chateauneuf du Pape (even for a 2010), it needs 5-6 years of cellaring and should age effortlessly for 25-30 years. Bravo!

With impressive holdings in the northern sector of Chateauneuf du Pape as well as an ever expanding, high quality negociant business, brothers Christophe and Sebastian Jaume have taken this estate, established in 1826, to new heights. The estate wines, which are sold under the Domaine Grand Veneur label, are classic, quasi-modern-styled Chateauneuf du Papes that represent brilliant examples of their impeccable viticulture and winemaking. Interestingly, all three cuvees of Chateauneuf du Pape were produced in 2011. That decision appears to be justified by the quality of what I tasted as well as their potential for extended maturity beyond a decade. As for the 2010s, the Alain Jaume offerings and the Domaine Grand Veneur Cotes du Rhone cuvees were all reviewed in my report on the wines of Kysela Pere et Fils in Issue #201. The 2010 Domaine Grand Veneur estate wines, especially the Chateauneuf du Papes, are brilliant.

Robert Parker | 100 RP

I absolutely loved this wine on release (I rated it 98+) and it certainly didn’t disappoint on this occasion. Made from a blend of 50% Grenache, 40% Mourvèdre and 10% Syrah that spent 18 months in mostly new barrels, this tour de force gives up killer notes of blackcurrants, scorched earth, wood smoke, cured meats and wild herbs. Deep, rich and concentrated, yet opulent and expansive, it’s just now starting to round the corner and is at the early stages of maturity. It will keep for another 15+ years.

Jeb Dunnuck | 99 JD

Opaque purple. Deeply pitched aromas of dark berry liqueur, cherry-cola, lavender and vanilla, with a spicy topnote. Fleshy, palate-staining blueberry and cassis flavors are lifted by juicy acidity and pick up a smoky quality with air. Supple and expansive on the endless finish, which strongly echoes the dark fruit and vanilla notes.

Vinous Media | 95 VM

Ripe and packed, but well-focused, with a broad beam of linzer torte and boysenberry fruit backed by graphite, violet and pastis notes. Picks up plenty of muscle and toasted spice on the finish, showing lots of latent depth in reserve. Very solid. Best from 2014 through 2024. 250 cases made, 40 cases imported.

Wine Spectator | 93 WS

Type of Wine	Rhone Red
Varietal	Proprietary Blend : Proprietary Blend is a general term used to indicate that a wine is comprised of multiple grape varietals which are either “proprietary” to the winery or is blended and does not meet the required maximum or minimum percentage of a particular varietal. This also is the case for the grape’s place of origin, especially for region, appellation or vineyard designated wines. There are endless examples of blended wines which are labeled as “Proprietary Blend” and in conjunction with each region’s stipulated wine laws and regulations makes for a vast blanket for wines to fall into. Perhaps the simplest example is California; if a wine is to be labeled as Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, it is required to have at least 75% of the varietal (Cabernet Sauvignon) and 85% of the fruit must be cultivated from the Napa Valley wine district. If the wine does not meet the requirements, it is then labeled as Proprietary Blend.
Country	France : Wine is the lifeblood that courses through the country of France, pulsing with vigorous pride and determination. Viticulture is not just a hobby or an occupation in France; it is a passion, a cherished tradition that has been passed down through generations of wine stained hands. Winemaking is a beloved art that has been ingrained in the culture, an aptitude instilled in sons by fathers and the hallmark for which France’s reputation was built, allowing it to be renowned as, arguably, the most important wine producing country in the world. For centuries, France has been producing wines of superior quality and in much greater quantity than any other country in the world. It boasts some of the most impressive wine regions, coveted vineyards and prestigious wines on earth. The regions of Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhone, Sauternes and Champagne have become the benchmark, for which others aspire to become. Legendary producers such as Chateaux Margaux, Domaine De La Romanee Conti, Chapoutier, d’Yquem and Dom Perignon are idolized world-wide. France has stamped its name on nearly every style of wine, from the nectar-like sweet Sauternes to hedonistic Chateauneuf Du Papes classic Bordeaux and Burgundy, to its sparkling dominance in Champagne. Many of the most infamous grape varietals in the world, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay originated in France and are not only beloved, but utilized in the creation of some of the greatest wines on earth. French wine production commands the attention of the wine market year after year. With over 860,000 hectares under vine, and numbers close to 50 million hectoliters of wine produced annually, France dominates the market and sets the standard for not only product quality, but also quantity. France’s many contributions to the world of wine have been absolutely indispensable. The country is the originator of the term “Premier Cru,” coined the term Terroir (a French term so complex there is no literal translation) and has laid the blueprint for a structured appellation system, which others have implemented in their own countries. French vineyard techniques and winemaking practices are mimicked world-wide. California vintners have been replicating Rhone style wines for decades, South America has adopted the French varietal of Malbec and countries around the world are imitating Burgundian styled Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. With vast diversity in terroir, France is home to some of the most hospitable winegrowing locations on earth. The combination of topography, geology, climate, rainfall and even the amount of sunlight combined with the long historical tradition of winegrowing and making, has allowed the vintners of France to not only hone their skills, but learn from nature to create a product that like the world in which it resides… is very much alive.
Region	Rhone : While the Northern Rhone produces only about 5% of all wine coming out of the Rhone Valley, the quality of these bottles is not to be underestimated. The terroir in this region is heavenly for growing Syrah, Viognier, Marsanne or Rousanne - the only permitted grapes in the AOC. Picture this - the Rhone flows through the valley like an azure thread piercing the landscape, a reflection of the dreamy skies hovering above the vineyards, ready to produce rainfall at a moment's notice. The rocky soil of the steep, almost surreal hillsides provides a bountiful feast for the grapevine roots. The flavors and texture of Northern Rhone wines tell you everything you need to know as soon as your lips touch the elixir, like a whisper in the vigorous valley winds As per the Southern Rhone wine, it is like taking a plunge into a whirlpool of juicy flavor. Every sip explodes forward like a crashing tsunami, bathing your tastebuds in delicious aromas of prune, chocolate, grass, and black fruit. The wines are so compelling that it can be hard to drink them casually at a social event without getting lost in their intricate textures and emotional depths. Let's set sail together, and drink deep from these luxurious bottles with our friends and loved ones.
Subregion	Southern Rhone
Appellation	Chateauneuf Du Pape

Producer	Domaine Grand Veneur : From the sun-drenched vineyards of Cotes-Du-Rhone, which straddle the great Rhone River to the legendary terroirs of Chateauneuf-Du-Pape and its incredible contributions to the world of winemaking, the Southern Rhone Valley has, for centuries, been one of the most important and productive wine regions in France. With a diverse topography, a multitude of different soil structures and micro-climates which combine harmoniously with the native grape varietals of the Rhone, it is a winemaking pleasure garden for nearly every palate. The Jaume Family (owner of Domaine Grand Veneur) who has been cultivating vineyards here for nearly two centuries is well aware of the value of this land and the history of winemaking in the region and are perpetuating it for the sake of future generations. Since 1826, the Jaume family has respected and preserved this legendary terroir which has drawn admiration since the Popes arrival to Avignon in the 14th Century. The Jaumes have continued to uphold the family legacy and with the entrance of the 6th generation, are securing their future and family name. As the highly esteemed, Robert Parker exclaims, “With impressive holdings in the northern sector of Chateauneuf du Pape as well as an ever expanding, high quality negociant business, brothers Christophe and Sebastian Jaume have taken this estate…to new heights.” They are now gradually taking over the management of Domaine Grand Veneur from their father, Alain, who took control of the family business in 1979. The vineyards of Domaine Grand Veneur are comprised of 16 hectares in the Orange winegrowing commune of Chateauneuf-Du-Pape and over 35 hectares in Cotes-Du-Rhone. The soils vary from clay and limestone to red clay and the ever-present and famous galets roules (large round stones). The climate is considered Mediterranean, with mild winters and warm summers. The Mistral (strong winds that blow the distance of the Rhone Valley) helps to dry the vines during times of heavy rainfall, while the proximity to the Rhone helps to temper extreme temperatures. The Jaumes, who believe that winemaking is above all a passion, imposes upon themselves both rigor and perseverance in the face of the demands of nature. They believe themselves to be craftsmen at the service of the exceptional terroir, with the ambition to produce intense wines of authentic character and tastes. Alain Jaume insists, “The ‘know-how’ just like the ‘terroir’ are our heritage, our only real wealth. It is essential to preserve them.” By cultivating their vines with respect to the soil and the living, they are allowing them to produce healthy, ripe and balanced grapes. Of the 13 grape varieties permitted in the production of Chateauneuf-Du-Pape and 21 in Cotes-Du-Rhone, Domaine Grand Veneur places special attention on Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, Clairette, Roussanne and Viognier, which they believe to best serve their blends. Domaine Grand Veneur produces 3 red Chateauneuf-Du-Papes, The Miocene, The Origins and Vieilles Vignes (Old Vines) 2 white Chateauneufs, The Miocene and La Fontaine, a Cotes-Du-Rhone single vineyard red named Les Champauvins and Blanc de Viognier (White of Viognier) which is 100% Viognier. Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre are blended in the creation of their reds, while Roussanne, Clairette and Viognier are used to produce their whites. In addition to the Domaine Grand Veneur collection, the Jaumes also produce wines under different domaine names from Condrieu in the north to Ventoux and Tavel in the south, including the popular appellations of Lirac, Saint Joseph Crozes-Hermitage and Gigondas. The negociant arm of the business is also flourishing and the wines sold under the “Jaume” name have become quite popular and synonymous with success.