Why it matters
The producer
Valérie Chaume-Arnaud works Domaine Chaume-Arnaud in Vinsobres with her husband Philippe and eldest son Thibaud. The domaine farms 38 hectares of vineyards. Thibaud trained in oenology and viticulture before joining the family work.
The red range includes Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault and Mourvèdre, while the white wines use Marsanne, Roussanne and Viognier. The family manages both vineyard work and the wines made from it.
Place and vineyards
Where the wines begin
The property lies in Vinsobres in the Drôme department and works across the Vinsobres and Côtes du Rhône appellations. Vinsobres names the more specific appellation, while Côtes du Rhône places the wines in the wider Rhône category. The two names therefore mark different levels within the range.
Clay limestone slopes and rolled pebble plateaus make up the vineyards, under a Mediterranean climate protected from mistral winds. The Vinsobres plateaus reach approximately 400 metres. Vinsobres wine from this setting is smooth and fruit driven, with full body and balanced acidity.
In the cellar
Vineyards and cellar
Organic agriculture began in 2003, and the domaine moved to biodynamics in 2004. Demeter certification followed in 2009. Organic farming avoids synthetic treatments, while biodynamic farming adds preparations and a whole farm approach. These methods describe the vineyard work behind the domaine's wines.
Wines to know
The range in view
The range includes Côtes du Rhône Blanc, Côtes du Rhône Rouge, Vinsobres and the 2023 Côtes du Rhône Le Petit Coquet. The red wines draw on Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault and Mourvèdre; the whites feature Marsanne, Roussanne and Viognier.
Le Petit Coquet is light, bright and well rounded, with smooth tannins. The Côtes du Rhône pair gives the range both a white and a red expression at the regional appellation level, while Vinsobres carries the more specific appellation name.