Alain Jaume Lirac 'Clos Sixte' 2015
SKU
AJLI201513 UCAU
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This Lirac vineyard is facing Chateauneuf du Pape, on the opposite side of the Rhône river
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The soils are almost identical on both sides. They are marked by the violence wrought by the Rhone river.
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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
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1 or more bottles$34.99
Editors notes
Intense inky colour. On the nose, aromas of red and black ripe fruit (kirsch and wild Blackberry) are dominant. The mouth is full, with aromas of blackcurrant liquor and spice. Tannins are both harmonious and elegant thanks to the fleshy of the wine. The end display hints of liquorice and vanilla, which give to the wine length and complexity.
Traditional wine-making in stainless still vats. Hand sorted bunches, crushed and destemmed grapes. Fermentation temperature : 30°C. 18 days of vatting with pigeages. Ageing in concrete vats and french oak barrels.
Details
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Wine Type
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Vintage
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Variety
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Brand
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Location
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Cellaring
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Closure
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Alcohol Percentage
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Oak Type
Tasting Profile
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Light (Light)Full (Full)
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Low Tannin (Low Tannin)Tannic (Tannic)
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Sweet (Sweet)Dry (Dry)
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Low Acidity (Low Acidity)High Acidity (High Acidity)
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Aroma
- Black Fruits
- Cedar
- Forest Floor
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Palate
- Black Fruits
- Liquorice
- Tobacco
Food Pairings
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Game -
Pork -
Red Meat
Critic Scores & reviews
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Jeb Dunnuck
91-93"The 2015 Lirac Clos de Sixte comes from an appellation that shares a similar terroir with Chateauneuf du Pape, yet is located just across the river, on the western side of the Rhone. It’s a serious, large scaled, voluptuous effort that that has lots of ripe tannin, a bid mid-palate and copious amounts of blackberries, black cherries, scorched earth, licorice and roasted herbs. One of the bigger boned and concentrated reds in the lineup, it will have a decade of longevity."
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Mark Faber
95"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. MF"
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Nick Butler
92"Vibrant purple/red colour. Retaining a youthful vitality. Dried red roses, plum sauce and rhubarb - far more savoury than its colour suggests. The plum sauce carries to the palate, mushrooms and umami. Complex and entirely savoury. Old World and hard to replicate."
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Locations
France
Wine is being produced throughout France and has been done for over 2,500 years with certain Châteaux dating their history back to Roman times, around 6th Century BC. Ranking second in the world in per-capita consumption and first in total production quantity. More so than the overall quantity of wine is the quantity of truly great wines coming out of France makes the nation the envy of wine-making nations worldwide.
Two concepts pivotal to the higher end French wines, in particular, are the idea of 'terroir' and the Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC) system. Terroir refers to the way the geography, geology and climate find their way into the glass, telling a story of the origin of the wine. The AOC was set up in 1935 and has the primary goal of protecting the authenticity of the wines and the livelihoods of the producers. Appellation rules strictly define which varieties of grapes and winemaking practices are approved for classification in each of France's several hundred geographically defined appellations, which can cover entire regions, individual villages or in some cases, like in Burgundy even specific vineyards.
Classic wine regions in France include Champagne (home of Champagne), Burgundy (Pinot Noir and Chardonnay), Bordeaux (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot), Alsace (Aromatic varietals), Loire Valley (Chenin Blanc, Crémant) and the Rhône Valley (Syrah, Grenache Mourvedre)
The Bordeaux classification of 1855 is still in use, as is the Sauternes and Barsac Classification of the same year. Wines from certain regions can be bought En Primeur, which is when the wine is sold prior to it being bottled.
Rhone Valley
The Rhône Valley is in the South of France and is situated in the Rhône river valley. The region has been growing wines for centuries and is generally split into two sub-regions. In the Northern Rhône, Syrah is the predominant grape variety, though it is often blended with other white varieties like Marsanne, Rousanne and Viognier, or the red grape Mourvedre. In the Southern Rhône, a wide range of white, red and rosés are produced alongside the undisputed king of the Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
The Northern Rhône is cooler than the Southern Rhône and has a continental climate with warm summers and cold winter. The appellations from North to South are Côte-Rôtie, Condrieu, Château-Grillet, Saint-Joseph, Crozes-Hermitage, Hermitage, Cornas and Saint-Péray.
In Southern Rhône, the climate is more Mediterranean, with mild winters and hot summers. Châteauneuf-du-Pape is the most famous appellation but others include Côtes du Rhône, Gigondas and Lirac. Large pebbles are used in the region, placed at the base of the vines to absorb the suns heat during the day, to keep the vines warm at night.
Châteauneuf-du-Papes are blended from the 13 permitted grape varieties, though Grenache usually dominates, supported by Syrah and Mourvèdre. These wines can be supremely rich and complex and typically warrant 5-10 years in the cellar for best results.
Lirac
A somewhat lesser-known appellation d'origine contrôlée (AOC) on the right bank of France’s southern Rhône, Lirac lies across the river from world-famous Châteauneuf-du-Pape and about 10 kilometres north of the city of Avignon. Grapegrowing has taken place here since ancient times, and as early as the 16th century, wines from Lirac began gaining popularity among the world’s nobility. The appellation covers 795 hectares and sits among low hills and terraces, producing red, white, and rosé wines. The climate is Mediterranean. Lirac red wines are full-bodied and typically comprise the region’s classic blend of Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Cinsault. Lirac reds are fresh and aromatic, robust, elegant, and well-structured, and they have good potential for ageing. Bourboulenc, Clairette, Grenache Blanc and Roussanne are the primary grapes for Lirac whites. Rosés from Lirac are full-bodied and intense – typically made from Grenache and Cinsault – and can develop nice complexity with age. Red wines represent 85% of Lirac’s production, white wines 10%, and rosés the remaining 5%.
About the brand Alain Jaume et Fils
In the 14th century, during their stay in Avignon, the popes built a papal castle in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Impressed by the area's exceptional “terroir” (the soil and its growing conditions), they planted vineyards around the castle on terraces covered with smooth rounded pebbles.
Established in the northern part of Châteauneuf du Pape, the Jaume family has been dedicated to the art of wine growing since 1826.
This venerable profession is our legacy, but above all it is our passion, requiring discipline, perseverance and a respect for nature and the challenges she presents us with. Every vintage is different from the last and we must skillfully adapt our growing techniques to the ever-changing behaviour of the vines, the grapes and the terroir.
Our aim, as skilled wine growers, is to produce, carefully and lovingly, wines that are intense, rich and complex and that reflect and embody the wonderful terroir of the southern Rhône Valley.
Our labels are stamped "Alain Jaume", with humility but also with a certain pride, as our name represents the guarantee of our constant commitment to your satisfaction.
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