Since taking over the estate from his father in 1992, Jean-Paul Daumen has become one of the most talented and revered winemakers in all of France regularly producing some of the top wines of the vintage. Made from a blend of 75% Grenache, 10% Cinsault, 5% Syrah, 5% Mourvedre and 5% other miscellaneous varieties, the Lieu-Dit Clavin vineyard is located 3 metres away from the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation boundary. Dense midnight black core with a deep dark red hue. Aromas of black cherry, liquorice and scorched earth mix with herbs du Provence and peppered meat notes. Cascading waves of rich, chewy textured black raspberry, black cherry and liquorice fruits engulf the palate with great power. Scorched earth, dried meat and peppered herb elements lie underneath. Ripe muscular tannins firm up the finish and provide some grip to the long robust, richly fruited yet fresh aftertaste. Cellar 5-6 years. Alc. 14.5%

The Vieille Julienne Chateauneuf Du Pape Les Hauts Lieux 2021 is a stunning representation of the famed Chateauneuf-du-Pape region in France. This vintage, produced by the esteemed Domaine de la Vieille Julienne, boasts a deep ruby red color with a brilliant clarity. On the nose, aromas of ripe black cherries, plums, and blackcurrants intertwine with hints of spice, leather, and earthiness. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied and rich, with a beautiful balance of tannins and acidity. Flavors of dark berries, cocoa, and pepper dance across the tongue, leading to a long and elegant finish. This wine is a true expression of the terroir, showcasing the unique character and complexity of Chateauneuf-du-Pape. Enjoy now or cellar for further development.

Jean-Paul Daumen took over from his father in 1992 and has since become one of the most revered, inventive and respected producers in France. He is a thoughtful, intelligent and deeply caring vigneron, managing the beautiful estate of Domaine de la Vieille Julienne like a philosopher or poet. Daumen farms 10ha of biodynamic Châteauneuf-du-Pape, with an average vine age of 70 years. There is a stonethrow distance between his Châteauneuf-du-Pape & Côtes du Rhône appellations (3 metres to be precise), so it is not a surprise to Rhône lovers that both display the power and structure the region’s best wines are known for. Jean-Paul during our tasting in September 2017 The 3 metre distance between Vielle Julienne's Côtes du Rhône vineyard and the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation boundary. Jean-Paul is aware of the unique nature of an estate property in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, and started to change his methods of vinification and blending in 2010. He moved away from blending in the winery and put all his focus on balanced field blends in the vineyard; the process of blending is now on a parcel by parcel basis, and not based on a grape by grape variety choice. Low yields are a priority at Vieille Julienne. Being held below 20hl per hectare, this leads to power, purity and concentration in his wines. The grapes are destemmed before co-fermentation in the cuverie, while aging takes place in a combination of foudres and old oak barrels. In short, these are “vineyard” wines of immense concentration, but little winery influence. In addition to his Vieille Julienne label, Jean-Paul is also making wines under his biodynamic negoc label Daumen. Even if these wines have the intention to be more accessible, they are anything but simple. The Daumen releases...which can be thought of as super-negociant wines where Jean-Paul is directly involved with all aspects of the vineyards and winemaking. In short, there are few wines I'd rather have on my table than those from Jean-Paul Daumen! - Jeb Dunnuck