la Vieille Julienne Les-Hauts-Lieux 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.

Les Hauts-Lieux expresses a singular facet of La Vieille Julienne’s terroir. Perched at the highest elevation of the estate and spanning 4.5 hectares (1.1 acres), this vineyard enjoys a cooler microclimate and exceptional protection from the Mistral wind. These conditions extend the growing season, allowing Mourvèdre grapes to achieve perfect ripeness while retaining vibrant freshness. The wine is produced from old vines that are on average 70 years old, which guarantees superb quality for each vintage.

This cuvée is a blend of Grenache, Mourvèdre, Cinsault, and Counoise, revealing striking balance, lifted aromatics, and refined structure. The higher altitude lends vibrant acidity and a fresh, energetic profile, while the age of the vines contributes to the wine’s depth, concentration, and quiet power. Beneath the wine’s taut tannic frame lies a core of elegance and vigor—an expression of terroir, altitude, and time.

"Including slightly more Mourvèdre and from a cooler, higher elevation terroir, the 2018 Châteauneuf Du Pape Les Hauts-Lieux has more cassis, game, peppery herbs, and olive notes, as well as the classic violets and black licorice nuances that always seem to be present in the wines from this estate. Possessing full-bodied richness, an ethereal, seamless texture, ultra-fine tannins, and nicely integrated acidity, it’s a more structured wine compared to the Les Trois Sources and will benefit from 2-3 years of bottle age and evolve for 15 years or more. It’s every bit as good as the Reserve cuvée in 2018." - Jeb Dunnuck, Jebdunnuck.com, Ratings: 97, Drink: 2020-2035