An account from the JN Team’s visit to Domaine Jamet in January 2023

No trip to the northern Rhône would be complete without visiting legendary Côte Rotie producer and our partner of the last decade, Domaine Jamet.

As we ascended the famous “roasted slope” from the town of Ampuis, via a winding, vertiginous road that snaked through the crags and ravines intermittently tamed by terraces of staked vines, the true, stark majesty of this appellation became immediately apparent.

It’s testament to sheer human grit and endeavour that these unforgiving slopes were ever deemed suitable for agriculture, and yet it’s almost always the most unyielding and indomitable landscapes that give way to the most sensuous and exhilarating wines.

As we retreated from the impending dusk into the warmly lit reception of the domaine, nestled on a high plateau above the slopes, we were soon greeted by Jean-Paul Jamet and his wife Corinne.

Jean-Paul began his winemaking career alongside his father over forty years ago, and now he works alongside his son, Loïc.

A steely, strong character (you’d have to be to work these vineyards!) he quietly led us down to his deep, utilitarian cellars which were full to the brim with large foudres.

One quickly gets the impression that – while humble and unadorned – this domaine is a serious operation, run by a bona fide master of his craft that pays no heed to pomp nor plenitudes.

 

We spent nearly three hours tasting through Mssr. Jamet’s newly bottled 2021 Condrieu, Côtes-du-Rhônes rouge and blanc, Syrah, and of course Côte-Rôties, as well as the 2022s still in barrel - sampling from cask of over a dozen lieu-dits of Côte-Rôties alone, concluding with a trio of 2020s (including a Côte-du-Rhône Équivoque, one of the stars of the show!) that showed how these wines knit together with time in bottle.

No superlatives suffice in description of the unfettered translations of terroirs from Jean-Paul’s numerous sites across the historic Côte-Rôtie appellation; their intensity and minerality balanced by his mastery of whole bunch fermentation, imparting a signature lift and spice to these complex, concentrated wines.

The Condrieu Vernillon – made by Loïc since 2015, and who joined us later in the tasting - offers a more elegant take on the appellation, while the Côtes-du-Rhônes and Syrah cuvées give unparalleled quality for their price.