Domaine de la Vieille Julienne Châteauneuf-du-Pape les Trois Sources 2016
Regular price $464.97 Sale price $449.97"The 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Trois Sources is straight-up sensational and isn't far off the more expensive Reserve cuvée in style and quality. Huge notes of blackcurrants, black raspberries, crushed violets, licorice, and incredible minerality, as well as a smoking floral quality, all soar from the glass of this fullbodied, seamless, pure wine that readers should snatch up. With good acidity, awesome purity, and a great, great finish, it's an incredible wine any way you look at it. Drink it anytime over the coming two decades or more."
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Organic and biodynamic approaches, minimal intervention and a great love for the terroir have always displayed the essence of Vieille Julienne. Jean-Paul Daumen took over from his father in 1992 and has since become one of the most iconic, innovative and respected producers of the Rhone. Jean-Paul Daumen took over from his father in 1992 and has since become one of the most revered, inventive and respected producers in France. He is a thoughtful, intelligent and deeply caring vigneron, managing the beautiful estate of Domaine de le Vieille Julienne like a philosopher or poet. Daumen farms 10ha of biodynamic Châteauneuf-du-Pape, with an average vine age of 70 years. There is a stonethrow distance between his Châteauneuf-du-Pape & Côtes du Rhône appellations (3 meters to be precise), so it is not a surprise to Rhône lovers that both display the power and structure the region’s best wines are known for.
Jean-Paul is aware of the unique nature of an estate property in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, and started to change his methods of vinification and blending in 2010. He moved away from blending in the winery and put all his focus on balanced field blends in the vineyard; the process of blending is now on a parcel by parcel basis, and not based on a grape by grape variety choice. Low yields are a priority at Vieille Julienne. Being held below 20hl per hectare, this leads to power, purity and concentration in his wines. The grapes are destemmed before co-fermentation in the cuverie, while aging takes place in a combination of foudres and old oak barrels. In short, these are “vineyard” wines of immense concentration, but little winery influence. In addition to his Vieille Julienne label, Jean-Paul is also making wines under his biodynamic negoc label Daumen. Even if these wines have the intention to be more accessible, they are anything but simple.Region: Châteauneuf-du-Pape, France
Variety: 70% Grenache - 10% Cinsault - 5% Syrah - 5% Counoise - 5% Mourvèdre - 5% others
Alcohol: 15% -
98 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Trois Sources is straight-up sensational and isn’t far off the more expensive Reserve cuvée in style and quality. Huge notes of blackcurrants, black raspberries, crushed violets, licorice, and incredible minerality, as well as a smoking floral quality, all soar from the glass of this full-bodied, seamless, pure wine that readers should snatch up. With good acidity, awesome purity, and a great, great finish, it’s an incredible wine any way you look at it. Drink it anytime over the coming two decades or more.
93-95 points - Vinous
Brilliant ruby-red. A highly perfumed bouquet evokes ripe, mineral-tinged red berries, candied flowers and incense. Pliant and seamless on the palate, showing impressive density as well as energy to the sweet raspberry, cherry and spicecake flavors. The floral note comes back steadily on an impressively persistent, youthfully tannic finish that leaves exotic spice and red fruit preserve notes behind.
