Domaine de la Vieille Julienne, Châteauneuf du Pape Rouge, Les Trois Sources, Southern Rhône, France, 2020

Producer Profile

Despite our already large portfolio of Châteauneuf estates, we did not hesitate when we had the opportunity to add Jean-Paul Daumen’s wines to our offering. These are very serious wines with a class coveted by many other producers.

With 10 hectares of vines at the very northern part of Châteauneuf du Pape and 5 hectares of Côtes du Rhône on the Lieu Dit Clavin, they are never the blockbusters produced by so many during the past decade, Vieille Julienne wines are completely unique and this is why they are so sought after!

Viticulture

Harvesting is done entirely by hand, with an initial selection of grapes in the vineyard followed by a second sorting in the cellar. The grapes are fully destemmed and fermentation is carried out using only natural yeasts, with no added sulfites. Vatting takes place over 20 days in temperature-controlled concrete tanks, with gentle extraction methods used to preserve the integrity of the fruit. The vineyard is composed mainly of yellow sand mixed with clay and limestone, situated on north-facing terraces. The total surface area covers 8.5 hectares (21 acres), with a low yield of 19 hectolitres per hectare (approximately 7.6 hl per acre).

Winemaking

The vinification process remains entirely traditional, with fermentation occurring naturally and without any additives. Only indigenous yeasts are used, allowing each terroir to express its unique character and each vintage to reveal its singular identity. After a long, slow fermentation, the wines are transferred to large oak foudres for aging. They spend one year maturing in these old barrels, followed by six months in bottle. Bottling takes place after 18 months of aging, without fining or filtration.

Tasting Note

This wine shows a dense, inky purple hue with rich, elegant aromas of red‑ and black‑berry fruits, including raspberry, black cherry, cassis, complemented by herbal garrigue, liquorice, and hints of pepper and earth. On the palate it is powerful yet poised, with lush fruit, fine-grained tannins, refreshing acidity, and a long, minerally-saline finish.

Food Matching

A fine match with roast lamb, aged meats, game, herby stews, grilled aubergine, wild mushroom dishes, or firm cheeses .