Domaine de la Vieille Julienne Reserve Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2015 (Single Bottle)
Regular price $429.99 Sale price $399.99"Tasting just like the Les Trois Source (they come from the same terroir), yet with just another level of polish and purity to its tannin and fruit, the sensational 2015 Châteauneuf du Pape Reserve offers layers of black raspberries, blueberries, crushed violets and black licorice. Thick, unctuous, layered and multi-dimensional, it’s a hard (and expensive) bottle to find, but is certainly one of the most singular and impressive wines made in the world. There’s few wines I’d rather have in my cellar (or better yet, on my dinner table), than the Châteauneuf du Papes from Vieille Julienne’s Jean-Paul Daumen."
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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: 85% Grenache 10% Syrah, 5% Cinsault
Alcohol: 15.5% -
100 points - Jeb Dunnuck, Wine Advocate
"Tasting just like the Les Trois Source (they come from the same terroir), yet with just another level of polish and purity to its tannin and fruit, the sensational 2015 Châteauneuf du Pape Reserve offers layers of black raspberries, blueberries, crushed violets and black licorice. Thick, unctuous, layered and multi-dimensional, it’s a hard (and expensive) bottle to find, but is certainly one of the most singular and impressive wines made in the world.
There’s few wines I’d rather have in my cellar (or better yet, on my dinner table), than the Châteauneuf du Papes from Vieille Julienne’s Jean-Paul Daumen."
97 points - Wine Spectator
"This is well-packed and intense, with a wide range of blueberry, blackberry, boysenberry and raspberry pâte de fruit notes laced with anise, black tea and singed mesquite details. Despite the density, this is remarkably refined, with graphite and chalky minerality deftly stitched throughout. Very long. Best from 2020 through 2045. 200 cases made."
