For the past decade Jean-Paul Daumen has been one of the stars of the Châteauneuf appellation, winning 100 points from Robert Parker for his top cuvées and generally making some of the most exciting wines coming out of the southern Rhône.
Even his ‘humble’ Côtes-du-Rhône should not be missed, coming as it does from a plot of 100 year old vines. Jean-Paul is a perfectionist and very precise. He does not over-oak or over extract his wines and they retain good structure and poise as a result. They do need time mind you, even at the CDR level where the 2005 and 2006 and just starting to drink beautifully.