la Vieille Julienne Réservé 2018

A Brief History of Domaine de la Vieille Julienne

On the heights of « lieu-dit Clavin » and at the northern limit of  Chateauneuf du Pape, the estate was born in the 17th century.

Today, this old vines vineyard’s of 20 hectares (50 acres), in one single bloc, shares out between red Châteauneuf du Pape « les Trois Sources », red Châteauneuf du Pape «les Hauts-lieux» and red and white Côtes du Rhône «lieu-dit Clavin».

The north facing terroir of slopes and its microclimate gives to this unique location a special ability, remaining very well adapted to the extreme current climatic conditions of the southern Rhône Valley and producing singular, harmonious and balanced wines.

​From generation to generation, terroirs are benefiting from the greatest respect and the vigneron, who remains attentive and sensitive, perpetuates the good practices and the « good sense of the farmer ».

All the traditional and original grape-varieties are selected, reproduced and planted using complantation (different kind of grape-varieties mixed in the same plot).

Harvests entirely done by hands allow a first selection in the vineyard and a second selection when the grapes (transported in small boxes), arrive at the winery.

The vinification continues to be traditional and the fermentation is natural, without any addition. The priceless natural yeasts located in the pruine (berry), reveals both singularity of each terroirs and single expression for each vintage.

Following a long and slow fermentation, wines are drained away in foudre (large oak barrels). Then, after 18 months aging, the bottling is done without fining and filtering. 

(Copyright: Domaine de la Vieille Julienne)

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, Jebdunnuck.com, Rating: 97, Drink: 2020-2035