DOMAINE CHAUME-ARNAUD

LVT 2018 r 2018 wh 2012 rosé The wines are happily starting to be made in a more tender fashion, having been rather extracted in previous years. Husband Philippe [pictured] has handed over some of the vinification to son Thibaud, who has worked in New Zealand, and plays rugby. Since 1999, the cellar equipment has been more up-to-date than it used to be, with a large extension cellar built in 2019 as well. Raising of the Vinsobres red is all in concrete vat. The domaine has been organic since 2006, and is now biodynamic also. The care in the vineyards really shone through in the ****(*) 2018 Vinsobres red, along with the skilled blending that produced a wine of 50% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 15% Mourvèdre, 15% Cinsault, the last two bringing freshness and structure respectively: it is a high VALUE wine. The white Côtes du Rhône Villages can give pleasure. This is a domaine whose early promise is being delivered, with good fruit and stylish drinking from the Villages and Vinsobres wines.
Philippe Chaume, Valérie, son Thibaud Chaume-Arnaud Les Paluds 26110 Vinsobres
Tel: +33(0)475 27 66 85
chaume-arnaud@wanadoo.fr
Countries exported to:1) Belgium 2) Japan 3) USA 4) GB
Percentage Exported: 60%
British Importers: Berry Brothers +441256 247 811 www.bbr.com
USA Importers: Polaner Selections 19 North Moger Avenue Mount Kisco NY 10549 +1914 244 0404 www.polanerselections.com info@polanerselections.com DNS Wines 2261 Market Street #326 San Francisco CA 94114 +1415 785 3679 www.dnswines.com info@dnswines.com
Quotes
“On our Villages white, the Marsanne brings the structure that the Viognier lacks.”
Philippe Chaume
“Our wines need two winters – the Vinsobres terroir means they are very closed in their first year – so that rule applies to our Côtes du Rhône and to our Vinsobres.”
Philippe Chaume
“2010 is more air-filled (aerien), fresh than 2009 - it is very round and unctuous; after 2009 one needs a 2010.”
Philippe Chaume
“Our 2012 harvest lasted three weeks, not the usual four, to avoid very, very high degree wines.”
Philippe Chaume
“We always have reduction on our whites; I don’t vinify on the lees, to avoid excess fat and heaviness.”
Philippe Chaume
“We harvest by the ripeness of the pips – when they are ripe to eat and crack. In 2012 they were ripe quickly, in 2011 they were late to ripen.”
Philippe Chaume
“The Côtes du Rhône Villages white is a wine for gastronomy: it goes well with cooked scallops, fish in sauce, cheese.”
Thibaud Chaume
“March is when our whites always change and emerge.”
Valérie Chaume-Arnaud
“2016 is a joyous vintage that didn’t need intervention. The wines are rich, concentrated.”
Valérie Chaume-Arnaud
“We only had half a harvest in 2017. I like it a lot because it’s fresh. There was frost on 21 April, hail in early May at Saint-Maurice that left the ground white, then drought, so we had a lot to contend with.”
Valérie Chaume-Arnaud
“In 2018 we lost 20%, but that was due to combat by us. We did the first copper treatment on a Sunday, then daily surveillance, with 12 treatments of small doses, and we dropped leaves. We had five young students for a month – it was a good decision, and we had the luck to find them. It’s not a keeping year, but the wines are of a high standard, especially the Côtes du Rhône.”
Valérie Chaume-Arnaud