Domaine de la Vieille JulienneChâteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge Les Trois Sources 2018

Domaine de la Vieille Julienne is one of Châteauneuf-du-Pape’s most compelling estates, rooted in the far north of the appellation where cooler exposures and mistral winds temper the Provençal sun. The Daumen family has tended these vines since the early 1900s, with Jean-Paul Daumen steering the domaine since 1990. His approach is uncompromisingly artisanal: organic farming (long practised, now certified), very low yields, hand harvesting, native yeasts, and élevage in large, neutral foudres that privilege the voice of place.

The mosaic of parcels includes venerable Grenache planted in 1905, alongside Mourvèdre, Syrah, Counoise and Cinsault, on soils that mix galets roulés with sandy and clay-limestone bands. Many plots face north, an anomaly in Châteauneuf-du-Pape that helps to preserve acidity and spice. This combination gives the wines a striking balance of ripeness and lift.

The red Châteauneuf-du-Pape is usually dominated by old-vine Grenache, with supporting varieties blended to emphasise texture and complexity rather than oak. In great years the domaine bottles a tiny-production Réservé from its oldest, most singular sites. The white, produced in very small quantities from Clairette, Roussanne and Grenache Blanc, is taut, saline and ageworthy. Beyond Châteauneuf, the estate crafts an expressive Côtes du Rhône from the neighbouring lieu-dit Clavin, often declassified fruit that punches well above its appellation.

Purity and precision define the style. Aromas of raspberry liqueur, garrigue and dried flowers segue to silken yet vibrant palates, framed by mineral freshness and fine, chalky tannins. The wines are powerful, they remain remarkably lifted. Ageing potential is excellent; the top cuvées can evolve effortlessly for two decades or more.

Still family-owned and resolutely independent, Domaine de la Vieille Julienne is a reference point for thoughtful, terroir-first Châteauneuf-du-Pape. It marries heritage with a modern sensibility, proving that intensity need not come at the expense of finesse. And grace.

https://www.vieillejulienne.com

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