2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Réservé, Domaine de la Vieille Julienne, Rhône

Domaine de la Vieille Julienne is located in the northern end of the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation, in sector known as Le Grès. Since 1990, when Jean-Paul Daumen took over from his father, the rise in quality of wine from this domaine has been breathtaking. There are now 32 hectares of vineyards and the average age of the vines is high at around 50 years.

The largest and most important appellation in the southern Rhône, with more than 3,200 hectares of vineyards and over 80 growers, Châteauneuf-du-Pape produces more wine than the whole of the northern Rhône combined. The gloriously rich red wines, redolent of the heat and herbs of the south, are enhanced by the complexity which comes from blending several of the 14 permitted grape varieties including Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah.