2014 Dm de la Vieille Julienne Chateauneuf du Pape les Trois Sources, Southern Rhone

The 2014 Domaine de la Vieille Julienne Châteauneuf du Pape Les Trois Sources is a beautiful and quietly powerful expression of the southern Rhône, coming from one of the region’s most revered biodynamic estates. Vieille Julienne sits on the northern edge of Châteauneuf du Pape, where galets roulés, red clay and limestone combine to give wines both richness and remarkable freshness. Les Trois Sources is sourced from a single vineyard where three natural underground springs help regulate vine stress, even in warm, dry years, adding natural balance and depth.

The estate is run by Jean Paul Daumen, a passionate advocate for biodynamic farming long before it became fashionable. His vineyards are alive with biodiversity, and yields are naturally low, resulting in fruit of great concentration and purity. The 2014 vintage was cooler and more classical in style, favouring elegance, aromatic detail and structure over sheer ripeness, which suits this cuvée beautifully.

The blend is dominated by old vine Grenache with smaller amounts of Mourvèdre, Syrah and Counoise. In the glass, the wine shows red and black cherry, raspberry and plum, layered with garrigue herbs, dried flowers, spice and a faint earthy note. The palate is supple yet structured, with fine tannins, bright acidity and a long, savoury finish that reflects both terroir and vintage.

This is a superb wine for the table. Slow cooked lamb, roast chicken, duck, mushroom based dishes or Provençal style recipes with herbs and olive oil all bring out its complexity and balance.

The 2014 Vieille Julienne Les Trois Sources is drinking beautifully now, but it still has many years ahead of it. Expect it to evolve gracefully for another fifteen to twenty years, gaining more savoury, truffle like and spicy complexity with time. It is a refined, soulful expression of Châteauneuf du Pape that shows the magic of both site and biodynamic farming.