la Vieille Julienne Les Trois Sources 2018

Château La Vieille Julienne is located in the prestigious Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation, in the heart of the Rhône Valley. The estate lies close to the village of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, surrounded by historic vineyards that stretch over terraces of rolled pebbles, typical of the appellation.

The estate was founded in the 17th century on the heights of “Clavin”, on the northern edge of Châteauneuf du Pape. The Daumen family, who have run the estate for several generations, have always made a point of respecting the terroir and traditional winemaking methods. However, it is under the impetus of Jean-Paul Daumen, the current winemaker, that La Vieille Julienne has taken on a new dimension, achieving international recognition for the exceptional quality of its wines.

Domaine de la Vieille Julienne extends over 20 hectares (50 acres) of old vines in a single block between Châteauneuf du Pape rouge “Les Trois Sources”, Châteauneuf du Pape rouge “Les Hauts-Lieux” and Côtes du Rhone rouge and blanc “Clavin”. La Vieille Julienne enjoys a Mediterranean climate and a privileged geographical location, with ideal exposure to the sun and the influence of the Rhone Valley winds, which contribute to the health of the vines. The mineral-rich terroir gives the domaine's wines a unique complexity and depth.

Nestled between Clavin and Les Hauts-Lieux, Les Trois Sources is a 7 hectares (17.3 acres) vineyard with an average vine age of 75 years. This heritage parcel draws its name from the natural springs found on the property and represents a profound expression of the estate’s terroir.

The blend is both traditional and diverse, composed of Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah, Counoise, Mourvèdre, Muscardin, Terret Noir, Vaccarèse, and small percentages of white varietals including Grenache Blanc, Bourboulenc, Clairette, and Picardan. The result is a wine of great aromatic complexity and layered structure, where floral lift and savory depth intertwine. A true embodiment of Châteauneuf-du-Pape’s rich viticultural heritage, Les Trois Sources offers purity, finesse, and a deep sense of place.

"True to form, the 2018 Châteauneuf Du Pape Les Trois Sources is a softer, more elegant wine than the Les Hauts-Lieux and offers a gorgeous perfume of black cherries, black licorice, tapenade, violets, herbes de Provence, and jus de viande. Deep, full-bodied, and beautifully layered, it gains weight with time in the glass and is going to benefit from just short-term cellaring. It doesn’t have the concentration for any long-term cellaring yet my money is on it evolving nicely for a solid 10-12 years." - Jeb Dunnuck, Ratings: 95, Drink: 2020-2032