Domaine de la Vielle Julienne
Domaine de la Vieille Julienne lies in the northern part of the appellation on mostly sandy terroir farmed organically and sustainably since Jean-Paul took over the estate in 1990.
Jean-Paul Daumen, the man behind this stunning estate, is the 5th generation owner and winemaker of Domaine de la Vieille Julienne. Other than being named by Matt Walls as one of six Châteauneuf-du-Pape producers to watch in 2017, recommended by Forbes in 2016, Jean-Paul’s Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Trois Sources 2016 also made it to the 6th spot on Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Wines of 2020. Despite cementing his stature as one of the most established producers in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Jean-Paul remains curious and open to new ideas in his never-ending journey towards perfection.
Viniculture
Keeping yields minuscule, he produces powerful and long-lived wines that are aged in neutral foudres and tanks to retain freshness. First made in 1994 from vines over 100 years old, the Châteauneuf-du-Pape Reserve is, according to Dunnuck, “only produced when Jean-Paul feels that the plot has something special to say”.
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Jeb Dunnuck (99)
A true “wow” wine, the deep, concentrated 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Hauts-Lieux (there's 20% Mourvèdre) offers awesome notes of blackcurrants, smoked meats, graphite, crushed rocks, and licorice. Extraordinarily concentrated, perfectly balanced, structured, and long, it's another sensational wine from this estate. It needs 4-5 years of bottle age and will cruise for 15-20 after that.Inc. VAT£563.86 -
Jeb Dunnuck (96+)
The 2017 Châteauneuf Du Pape Les Hauts-Lieux comes from slightly higher elevation sites and includes more Mourvèdre than the Les Trois Source release. It’s pure, full-bodied, and incredibly structured, with a tight, backward style that’s going to benefit from bottle age. Showing a distinct salty minerality as well as loads of black and blue fruits, it reminds me of the 2015 yet with more elegance. Hide bottles for 4-5 years and enjoy over the following two decades.Inc. VAT£437.86 -
Vinous (95)
Brilliant violet. Cherry, blackberry, pungent flowers, allspice and garrigue on the assertively perfumed nose. Sappy and broad on entry, offering appealingly sweet red and dark berry flavors that tighten up and become spicier through the midpalate. There's excellent depth here, but there's energy as well. Closes impressively long and gently chewy, with resonating cherry and floral notes and slowly building tannins that add discreet grip.Inc. VAT£521.09 -
Jeb Dunnuck (98+)
The 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape Les Hauts-Lieux includes slightly more Mourvèdre and comes from a cooler parcel in the northern part of the appellation. It has another level of purity and precision compared to the Trois Sources and has extraordinary notes of blueberries, cassis, black licorice, violets, and crushed stone-like minerality. Incredibly concentrated, massive, and yet perfectly balanced, it has no hard edges and is just an incredible tasting experience. Hide bottles for 4-5 years and enjoy over the following 20-25 years.Inc. VAT£443.86 -
Jeb Dunnuck (97)
The 2020 Châteauneuf du Pape Les Hauts-Lieux comes from a cooler, higher elevation parcel and also includes slightly more Mourvedre, both of which give this cuvée a more firm, structured profile, especially in its youth. Awesome red, blue, and black fruits as well as black licorice, liquid violet, and peppery garrigue define the bouquet, and it's full-bodied, with a great mid-palate, ripe tannins, and a salty, almost bloody character on the finish. It shows the more charming nature of the 2020 vintage yet still deserves 4-5 years of bottle age and will have over two decades of longevity.Inc. VAT£359.86 -
Jeb Dunnuck (98)
The 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Trois Sources is straight-up sensational and isn’t far off the more expensive Reserve cuvée in style and quality. Huge notes of blackcurrants, black raspberries, crushed violets, licorice, and incredible minerality, as well as a smoking floral quality, all soar from the glass of this full-bodied, seamless, pure wine that readers should snatch up. With good acidity, awesome purity, and a great, great finish, it's an incredible wine any way you look at it. Drink it anytime over the coming two decades or more.Inc. VAT£410.69 -
Jeb Dunnuck (100)
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.Inc. VAT£1,612.22
-
Jeb Dunnuck (99)
A true “wow” wine, the deep, concentrated 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Hauts-Lieux (there's 20% Mourvèdre) offers awesome notes of blackcurrants, smoked meats, graphite, crushed rocks, and licorice. Extraordinarily concentrated, perfectly balanced, structured, and long, it's another sensational wine from this estate. It needs 4-5 years of bottle age and will cruise for 15-20 after that.In Bond£450.00 -
Jeb Dunnuck (96+)
The 2017 Châteauneuf Du Pape Les Hauts-Lieux comes from slightly higher elevation sites and includes more Mourvèdre than the Les Trois Source release. It’s pure, full-bodied, and incredibly structured, with a tight, backward style that’s going to benefit from bottle age. Showing a distinct salty minerality as well as loads of black and blue fruits, it reminds me of the 2015 yet with more elegance. Hide bottles for 4-5 years and enjoy over the following two decades.In Bond£345.00 -
Vinous (95)
Brilliant violet. Cherry, blackberry, pungent flowers, allspice and garrigue on the assertively perfumed nose. Sappy and broad on entry, offering appealingly sweet red and dark berry flavors that tighten up and become spicier through the midpalate. There's excellent depth here, but there's energy as well. Closes impressively long and gently chewy, with resonating cherry and floral notes and slowly building tannins that add discreet grip.In Bond£415.00 -
Jeb Dunnuck (98+)
The 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape Les Hauts-Lieux includes slightly more Mourvèdre and comes from a cooler parcel in the northern part of the appellation. It has another level of purity and precision compared to the Trois Sources and has extraordinary notes of blueberries, cassis, black licorice, violets, and crushed stone-like minerality. Incredibly concentrated, massive, and yet perfectly balanced, it has no hard edges and is just an incredible tasting experience. Hide bottles for 4-5 years and enjoy over the following 20-25 years.In Bond£350.00 -
Jeb Dunnuck (97)
The 2020 Châteauneuf du Pape Les Hauts-Lieux comes from a cooler, higher elevation parcel and also includes slightly more Mourvedre, both of which give this cuvée a more firm, structured profile, especially in its youth. Awesome red, blue, and black fruits as well as black licorice, liquid violet, and peppery garrigue define the bouquet, and it's full-bodied, with a great mid-palate, ripe tannins, and a salty, almost bloody character on the finish. It shows the more charming nature of the 2020 vintage yet still deserves 4-5 years of bottle age and will have over two decades of longevity.In Bond£280.00 -
Jeb Dunnuck (98)
The 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Trois Sources is straight-up sensational and isn’t far off the more expensive Reserve cuvée in style and quality. Huge notes of blackcurrants, black raspberries, crushed violets, licorice, and incredible minerality, as well as a smoking floral quality, all soar from the glass of this full-bodied, seamless, pure wine that readers should snatch up. With good acidity, awesome purity, and a great, great finish, it's an incredible wine any way you look at it. Drink it anytime over the coming two decades or more.In Bond£323.00 -
Jeb Dunnuck (100)
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.In Bond£1,323.00