The varietal quality of Les Jamelles Vallée de la Boulzane Grenache Noir

Here I am in Luxemburg eating a terrine of lamb, drinking a 2017 Grenache Noir “Sélection Parcellaire” Vallée de la Boulzane along with it. I came to the same realisation as the first time I tasted Les Jamelles’ Grenache Noir during a 21 wines and 7 dishes wine food pairing at @pitch.pr.

Similar to the pitch.pr tasting, Les Jamelles 100% Grenache Noir Vallée de la Boulzane reveals itself slowly in the glass, offering a compelling, abundant yet concentrated wine, with ripe red and black fruits, a hint of spicy oak, beautiful tannins, and a silky, ample finish. It was one of my favourite Pays D’Oc wines then and attracted my attention again in Luxemburg.

Sometimes I prefer to think about wines from the Pays d’Oc as varietal wines, other times not. When I re-tasted the Grenache Noir from Catherine Delaunay, the dynamic winemaker behind Les Jamelles, I found that certain characteristics  – such as its remarkable balance – appeal to me.

Catherine, daughter of Beaujolais winegrowers, and Laurent Delaunay, 5th generation of Burgundian merchants, are the people behind Les Jamelles. Catharina and Laurent met during their oenology studies at the University of Dijon. Frustrated by the bleak prospects in Burgundy, the two passionate oenologists discover the diversity of the terroirs and grape varieties in the Languedoc region in the early 1990s, after a stint in Napa Valley, California.

Passionate about wine, wine blending and wine tasting, winemaker Catharine prefers balanced wines made with precision, finesse, and complex scents. Wines with intensity, roundness, fresh acidity, and silky tannins in the finish.

In line with the varietal approach of the Protected Geographical Indication (IGP) Pays d’Oc, Les Jamelles is focused on making expressive, high-quality, good value, varietal wines.

Catharine and Laurent called their brand Les Jamelles. A feminine name, faithful to their original philosophy to make wines from expressive and accessible grape varieties. Moreover, wines that evoke their Languedoc origin, wines that complement the art of Mediterranean living in the south of France.