2018 Domaine de la Vieille Julienne Chateauneuf-du-Pape Reserve

Domaine de la Vieille Julienne is home to some of the most singular wines in all of the Rhone. Only a small handful of producers in Chateauneuf-du-Pape even come close to the level that this estate produces regularly. Among the wines of this lauded estate, the Reserve reigns as king. Even in trying years this wine flirts with perfection and has critics drooling over the potential. Unfortunately, only minuscule amounts are made leaving us with a tiny allocation of just a handful of bottles. If high scores and one-way tickets to a land of bliss are your thing this is not to be missed.

Since 1905 Domaine de la Vieille Julienne has been producing wine from the small estate vineyard in Chateauneuf-du-Pape. What is particularly unique about their location is the slope these grapes are planted on faces North. We regularly hear about south-facing vineyards, but in a region as warm as the Southern Rhone valley, this lesser exposure to the sun actually extends the growing season. This longer growth cycle gives the vines the gift of extremely complex aromatic profiles that beautifully translates into a harmonious wine.   

With only 250 cases produced and 50 cases imported, gather ye rosebuds.

90% Grenache, 10% blend of Syrah, Cinsault, and Counoise. This wine is dense and dark. Aromas of Dark fruit, purple flowers, and crushed pepper almost erupt out of the glass. On the palate, this feels luxurious, polished, and balanced with an exceptionally long finish. Expect this to age beautifully for well over a decade. 

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. ~97 Jeb Dunnuck

Inky ruby. Expansive red and dark berry preserve, licorice and potpourri aromas are complemented by an exotic spice flourish and a suggestion of smoky minerality. Broad and fleshy in the mouth, offering deeply concentrated black raspberry, boysenberry and cherry cola flavors, along with five-spice powder and candied lavender nuances. Slowly firms up with air and shows superb clarity, building tannins and outstanding, floral-driven persistence on the finish. ~96 Vinous Media

Gorgeous flavors of raspberry, boysenberry and blackberry pâte de fruit meld together with warmed fruitcake, anise and red tea notes in this red, which is understated stylistically. There’s a subtle singed alder frame that guides the flavors through the focused finish, where fine chalky minerality lingers prettily. Best from 2024 through 2038. 250 cases made, 50 cases imported. ~95 Wine Spectator

***Free Shipping on 6 or More Bottles of This Wine***