la Vieille Julienne Réservé 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.

The Cuvée Réserve became a symbol of excellence, composed primarily of Grenache, the emblematic grape of the region, it is complemented by Mourvèdreand, occasionally, Syrah, depending on the vintage. This cuvée is crafted in extremely limited quantities, using only the finest grapes selected from the oldest vines on the property.

Vinification is carried out with meticulous care, adhering to biodynamic principles. The hand-harvested grapes undergo a double selection—first in the vineyard, and again upon arrival at the cellar in small boxes to preserve integrity. Fermentation is conducted using indigenous yeasts, allowing the wine to express the full character of the terroir without interference.

On tasting, the Cuvée Réserve stands out for its deep color, often accompanied by powerful aromas of black fruits, spices, garrigue and mineral notes. On the palate, the wine is opulent, with velvety tannins and a solid structure. The Réserve is widely regarded as one of the purest and most powerful expressions of Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

How to explain what makes the « Réservé » so singular ... Very old vines, low yields and natural approach make the bases, but it's in the microclimate of the north facing terroir of slopes that it'll forge his character.

"Mid-August, when the vineyard is desert, I like walking in the vineyard of « les Trois Sources », receiving vines expressions, tasting berries. At this time, I must be receptive and I must appreciate all the details. Some years, depending the context of the vintage, some vines show specifics expressions. Exclusively in this case, these more hundred years old vines of Grenache (90%), Syrah, Cinsault and Counoise get marked and vinified separately, producing the Réservé." - Jean-Paul DAUMEN

"The 2018 Châteauneuf Du Pape Reserve comes from a single terroir (which is closest to the Les Trois Sources terroir) and is always a tiny production cuvée that’s just about impossible to find in the market. The 2018 shows the more elegant, seamless style of the vintage beautifully and has a gorgeous bouquet of cassis, blueberries, crushed violets, smoked game, ground pepper, and black licorice. This carries to a seamless, full-bodied wine that has no hard edges, flawless balance, and silky tannins, as well as a great finish. This is just about as good as 2018 gets and is a singular, gorgeous wine that’s going to evolve gracefully for 15+ years or more."- Jeb Dunnuck, Ratings: 97, Drink: 2020-2035