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

Winemaker Notes: The parcels for this cuvee come from two lieux-dits located in the northern sector of Chateauneuf du Pape. From west to east are Maucoil (clay-limestone, pebbly, N exposure, 50-100m alt) and Bois Lauzon (red clay, sandy gravel sub-soil, galets roulees, flat 50m alt).

Madeline Triffon, MS Selection: "A shockingly fine wine, with gorgeous pure blue-black fruit, and finely grained tannins. Would make a terrific gift!"

CRITICAL ACCLAIM


Jeb Dunnuck - "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."


Decanter - "This is deeper in colour than the other cuvees, marginally. It’s exuberantly fruity with plum, prune and blackberry all in coulis. It's full-bodied, but not exaggeratingly so with mouthcoating fruit, and not quite as flamboyant as previous years - there's a little cool straightness to it. Despite the extremities of 2018, this is a relatively restrained vintage for this cuvee, and in that respect it's not a totally classic year. But it's all the more drinkable for it, with less noticeable alcohol than other hot years. This will be really exceptional in time. It has real texture, mineral drive and a very, very long finish. Finesse, elegance and drinkability in 2018. Biodynamic."


Vinous - "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."

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