Many of our customers have had the pleasure of trying several of the wines of Alain Jaume, one of our exclusive imports from the Southern Rhone over the past few vintages. Our newest arrivals over-deliver in flavour and value for money, from their Cotes du Rhone, 'Les Champauvins' which is separated from the esteemed Chateauneuf-du-Pape region by a thin pebbled road, through the fully Organic and exceptionally priced "Clos Sixte" from the modernising and on-trend Lirac region and then of course to the top of the tree, their powerful yet amazingly elegant Chateauneuf-du-Pape "Le Miocene" which is named after the unique Miocene-era rounded stones which the vines grow from.
“With impressive holdings in the northern sector of Chateauneuf du Pape as well as an ever expanding, high quality negociant business, brothers Christophe and Sebastien JAUME have taken this estate, established in 1826, to new heights."
Robert Parker
We had the great pleasure of staying at the Jaume family guest house when in the Rhone Valley in March, and saw first-hand the quality of the vineyard sites this family has built over the past 200-odd years since they were established in 1826. They are in the process of moving to completely Organic viticulture, with their Lirac and Chateauneuf-du-Pape sites already completely certified. Their wines reflect the warmth of the South of France in their full body and robust dark fruit flavours, however their is an elegance and lively character in each of the wines that would make many a Barossan winemaker jealous!
Today the winery is operated by brothers, Sebastien and Christophe, who make up the 5th generation of Jaume's keeping their family traditions alive. As an independent family-owned and operated business, we love working with other family businesses with the same ideals; to bring you the best wine experience possible!
ALAIN JAUME CHATEAUNEUF DU PAPE LE MIOCENE 2017
"Bottled 1 week ago when I visited in early April 2019, but looking very well put together already. Ripe red fruit and plenty of Christmas cake spices- cinnamon, nutmeg and cardamon. Surprisingly fresh, bright and seriously pretty. Very light extraction (only one pump over a day) and only old barrels means it is actually pretty light on the tannins and body. 15% abv very well integrated." - Mark Faber, UC Tasting Panel
- Plots are located northern part of Châteauneuf du Pape and the vines are grown using organic processes
- 70% Grenache noir, 20% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre
- The soil is marked by the violence wrought by the Rhone river. It consists of a layer of marine molasses of the Miocene period covered by alpine alluvium
ALAIN JAUME LIRAC 'CLOS SIXTE' 2015
"Fruit weight more apparent on the nose- dense bramble fruits. Chalk and spice as well but they take a back seat. Fruit weight is actually beautifully balanced by some chewy round tannins and bright red fruit acid. Alcohol is well integrated as well, and the finish is very long. Mineral freshness and soda-bread finish is gorgeous." - Mark Faber, UC Tasting Panel
- This Lirac vineyard is facing Chateauneuf du Pape, on the opposite side of the Rhône river
- The soils are almost identical on both side. They are marked by the violence wrought by the Rhone river.
- The presence of a great number of rounded stones known as "galets" in the earth is evidence of the time when the Rhone, then a torrent, tore fragments of rock from the Alps and deposited them on the plain
ALAIN JAUME COTES DU RHONE LES CHAMPUAVINS 2016
"One of the finest vintages of this cuvée to date, the 2016 Côtes du Rhône Les Champauvins... is a brilliant, sexy, peppery herbs, pine, and sweet red and black fruits. With beautiful complexity, a layered, seamless texture, notable tannins, and a great finish, it easily competes with any number of more expensive Châteauneuf-du-Papes and Gigondas. It’s great today yet will keep for 7-8 years." - 94pts, Jeb Dunnuck
- “Les Champauvins” stretches on 34 ha of Organic certified vineyards classified as Côtes du Rhône.
- The plots are located in the northern border of Châteauneuf du Pape, exactly from 3 meters outside the appellation.
- A small lane of rocksgoing through the rocky plateaux has been decided to be the AOC limit in 1936.
