Cotes du Rhone ‘Blanc de Viognier’, Domaine Grand Veneur, Rhone Valley

The Jaume family have been making wine here since 1826 and still own the same vineyards; some of the vines are now over 100 years old.

Christophe Jaume is the sixth generation of his family to make wine at this domaine. Covering nearly 50 hectares, the domaine has plots in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Côtes du-Rhône Villages, Côtes-du-Rhône and Lirac. Their vineyards are planted with Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre for the reds and Grenache Blanc, Clairette and Roussanne for the Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc, and Viognier for the excellent white Côtes-du-Rhône Blanc de Viognier. The family believe in maintaining the harmony between the grape and the soil and so they farm organically; their vineyards achieved organic certification in 2012.

This is regarded as one of the best Viogniers to come from the Southern Rhone and a relative bargain compared to similar quality wines from Condrieu in the North.

The wine has real depth of flavour, with creamy stone fruit notes balanced by a lively freshness. Very delicious with pork belly with fennel and apple