Domaine Chaume-Arnaud

The Integrity Take

Concrete is key at Domaine Chaume-Arnaud. Their Vinsobres vineyards make some of the freshest Rhone wines around. Begun by Valerie and her husband Philippe, the mantle is carried on by their son Thibaud, and more recently his brother Raphael. Their approach to vineyard management and low intervention in the cellar put them at the top of quality in the area. In addition to wine, they also grow some of the best olives and tomatoes I have tasted.

In 1956 a frost took most of the olive trees on the farm and vine planting took over.
Still keep trees, olives and tomatoes growing to promote biodiversity
Only uses concrete tanks in vinification

The Story

Valérie and her husband Philippe own 33 ha in Vinsobres and 6 ha in Cotes du Rhone Village Massif d’Uchaux and Saint-Maurice. The Domaine is certified biodynamic and is made up principally of Grenache (60%); Syrah (20%) with some very old vine Cinsault, Carignan and Mourvèdre (10%) plus Viognier and Marsanne (10%). Vines average 30 years old, going up to 65 for the Carignan in the Vinsobres cuvée. Yields are kept low, all soil treatments are organic, grapes are all harvested by hand, and then de-stemmed and fermented with natural yeasts. Aging occurs in concrete tanks.

Chaume-Arnaud began with a family-owned estate that grew grapes for many generations. For decades the Chaume family historically sold their entire crop to the local cooperative. In 1996, Valérie Chaume struck out on her own and in 1999, together with her husband, Philippe, began to make their own wine. Philippe tends the vineyards; Valerie makes the wine.

Calcareous soils of clay and Gravel on the best exposed slopes from St. Maurice to Vinsobres

High elevation, old vines, low yields, cooling breezes
Minimal intervention both in the vineyard and in the cellar

Valerie and Philippe produce several wines: Marselan IGP, Cote du Rhone, “La Coquette,” Vinsobres, Vinsobres “La Cadène” ( from the best parcels with 60-years-old Grenache and 50-years-old Syrah and sometimes some Mourvèdre);  Cotes du Rhone Village Massif d’Uchaux Granges Rouge, Cotes du Rhone Village Saint-Maurice, Cotes du Rhone and Cotes du Rhone Blanc “La Cadène.” The wines are characterized by freshness, intensity, and purity of fruit with balanced bright acidity, clean terroir expression and silky soft tannins.