98+ Jeb Dunnuck
$89.00/bottle (ETA April) Limited - Buy Now
The 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape Les Hauts-Lieux includes slightly more Mourvèdre and comes from a cooler parcel in the northern part of the appellation. It has another level of purity and precision compared to the Trois Sources and has extraordinary notes of blueberries, cassis, black licorice, violets, and crushed stone-like minerality. Incredibly concentrated, massive, and yet perfectly balanced, it has no hard edges and is just an incredible tasting experience. Hide bottles for 4-5 years and enjoy over the following 20-25 years. Drink 2025-2051—Jeb Dunnuck
2019 La Vieille Julienne Chateauneuf du Pape Reserve
100 Jeb Dunnuck
$295.00/bottle (ETA April) Buy Now
Lastly, the 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape Reserve is another magical wine, and I might have rated this cuvée a perfect score more than any other Southern Rhône. Unquestionably in the same realm as the 2017, 2016, 2010, 2005, 2003, and 2001, it has an incredible, full-bodied, massive style that somehow stays perfectly balanced, with flawless integration of its fruit, tannins, acidity, and alcohol. Lots of red, blue, and black fruits, loamy earth, Asian spice, licorice, and violet nuances emerge from the glass, and it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, building yet polished tannins, and a great, great finish. It’s a sexier, more opulent wine than the Les Hauts-Lieux release yet has the same perfect tannins that are so rare to find in the vintage. This required at least 4-5 years of bottle age and will drink brilliantly for 20-25+ years.
2019 La Vieille Julienne Chateauneuf du Pape les Trois Sources
96+ Jeb Dunnuck
$67.89/bottle (ETA April) Buy Now
More cassis, morello cherry, Asian spice, and a beautiful sense of minerality and loamy earth emerge from the 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape Les Trois Sources, a full-bodied, concentrated blend of 60% Grenache, 15% each of Cinsault and Syrah, and the balance Mourvèdre. Coming all from the estate’s sandy soils in the northern part of the appellation, this incredibly concentrated, textured wine has perfect balance, building tannins, and a great finish. Give this beauty another 4-5 years in the cellar and drink it over the following two decades or more.
2019 La Vieille Julienne Cotes du Rhone Lieut-Dit Clavin Rouge
91 Jeb Dunnuck
$24.89/bottle (ETA April) Buy Now
Moving to the 2019s from bottle, the Côtes Du Rhône Lieu-Dit Clavin always shows the style of this estate as well as the vintage, and the 2019 is well worth seeking out. Black cherries, gravelly earth, spicy herbs, and violet notes give way to a medium to full-bodied, floral, seamless Côtes du Rhône that does everything right.
2019 La Vieille Julienne Cotes du Rhone Lieut-Dit Clavin Blanc
$24.89/bottle (ETA April) Buy Now
90 Jeb Dunnuck
You almost never see the Lieu-Dit Clavin releases (there is a red and white) in the marketplace, but they’re beautiful little gems of wines to snatch up. They come from just across the Châteauneuf du Pape line, on the northern part of the appellation, from very old vines just around the estate, and they always show incredibly classic Vieille Julienne character. Starting with the white, the 2019 Côtes Du Rhône Lieu-Dit Clavin Blanc sports a lighter gold color as well as a crisp, classy bouquet of sliced apple, white flowers, spring flowers, and a touch of peppery garrigue to go with a medium-bodied, nicely textured, balanced style on the palate. With air, it shows a touch of nuttiness, ample palate density, and the class to evolve nicely for 7-8 years, if you’re so inclined.
Also Available:
2018 La Vieille Julienne Chateuneuf du Pape Les Haut Lieux
97 Jeb Dunnuck
$97.89/bottle (In Stock) Buy Now
#1 Jeb Dunnuck’s Top 100 Wines of 2020
Including slightly more Mourvèdre and from a cooler, higher elevation terroir, the 2018 Châteauneuf Du Pape Les Hauts-Lieux has more cassis, game, peppery herbs, and olive notes, as well as the classic violets and black licorice nuances that always seem to be present in the wines from this estate. Possessing full-bodied richness, an ethereal, seamless texture, ultra-fine tannins, and nicely integrated acidity, it’s a more structured wine compared to the Les Trois Sources and will benefit from 2-3 years of bottle age and evolve for 15 years or more. It’s every bit as good as the Reserve cuvée in 2018. - Jeb Dunnuck
