Domaine de la Vieille Julienne - Châteauneuf-du-Pape Réservé 2019 (750ml)
Price: $329.99
100pts Jeb Dunnuck
| Producer | Domaine de la Vieille Julienne |
| Country | France |
| Region | Rhône Valley |
| Varietal | Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre |
| Vintage | 2019 |
| Sku | 64597 |
| Size | 750ml |
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Domaine de la Vieille Julienne Description
Jean-Paul Daumen joined his family domaine in the 1992 vintage and has taken it to new heights. Working only 10 hectares of Châteauneuf-du-Pape and 5 hectares of Côtes-du-Rhône, he has farmed his land bio-dynamically since 2000. La Vieille Julienne is unique in that the vineyards lie on the northern edge of the appellation, and they are all north-facing - the only contiguous north-facing estate in the entire region. This allows a later, slower maturation of the grapes and ever-present elegance and balance. Jean-Paul walks his vineyards during harvest marking the plants that should be picked and waiting on others. He truly works his vineyard plant by plant, not parcel by parcel. Grapes are co-harvested and co-fermented.
The Réservé cuvée, only made in special vintages, comes from a north-facing, sandy parcel that lies on ‘Les Trois Sources’ and is planted primarily with 115-year-old Grenache vines. After harvest, the grapes are co-fermented, naturally and without sulfur, in concrete, and then aged in foudres. The winemaking is very much hands off, and the cuvee is really made in the vineyard.
Lastly, the 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape Reserve is another magical wine, and I might have rated this cuvée a perfect score more than any other Southern Rhône. Unquestionably in the same realm as the 2017, 2016, 2010, 2005, 2003, and 2001, it has an incredible, full-bodied, massive style that somehow stays perfectly balanced, with flawless integration of its fruit, tannins, acidity, and alcohol. Lots of red, blue, and black fruits, loamy earth, Asian spice, licorice, and violet nuances emerge from the glass, and it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, building yet polished tannins, and a great, great finish. It’s a sexier, more opulent wine than the Les Hauts-Lieux release yet has the same perfect tannins that are so rare to find in the vintage. This required at least 4-5 years of bottle age and will drink brilliantly for 20-25+ years.
— 100pts, Jeb Dunnuck
