Pale copper color; cherry, orange on the nose; strawberry, raspberry, apricot on the palate.
Dry; medium-plus body; gentrified acidity. Blend of 50% grenache noir, 25% cinsault, 20% syrah, 5% mourvèdre. Grapes are pressed immediately after harvest—minimum skin contact maceration. Fermented in cooled stainless steel. Bottled five months after harvest.
Alain Jaume is the principal winemaker, assisted by his sons, Sebastien and Christophe. The family holdings include 40 acres in Chateauneuf, 50 acres in Lirac, and 75 acres of Cotes du Rhône. The family produces two labels: Alain Juame (this effort, a negociant wine) and Domaine Grand Veneur. The domaine dates from 1826; founded by Mathieu Jaume. Alain has managed the domaine since 1979.
The winery notes: “A great wine is one that is made from healthy grapes and that allows the unique character and complexity of its terroir to be expressed.” To achieve that, the vineyards are grown in accordance with certified organic practices. Soils are maintained exclusively by light plowing and fertilized with vegetable compost. Vines are only sprayed when essential using organic-permitted treatments.
Yields are low, controlled by green harvesting. The vines are attended by hand in summer. To keep bunches well-aired, leaves are thinned by hand. Grapes are hand-harvested and sorted by bunch. The matured wines undergo only a slight clarification so as not to mute the characteristics of the grape and terroir.
Alain Jaume Bellissime Rosé 2021 is clean, pure Rhône rosé from Chateauneuf du Pape area using organic practices. A wonderfully straightforward, red wine rosé from one of the hearts of rosé—Provence is wonderful, but walk a bit to the east and you have wonderful there, too. A joy of wine is how many special places there are to produce special wine. Cheese—fresh goat cheese; cantal, brie, mozzarella, feta, cheddar, baby swiss. $12-16
