Domaine de la Vieille Julienne Cotes du Rhone 2017

There is something special in this Cotes du Rhone and no surprise when you do a little digging – the vineyard is across the road from vines designated as Chateauneuf-du-Pape with an average age of 85 years. It’s the real deal, at a bargain price.

Deeply coloured, it opens with powerful and rustic aromas of old vine grenache – baked earth, meat and spice with ripe blackberry sitting underneath. The palate is then dense, ripe, expressive and highly complex with layers of brooding dark fruits plus mineral, spice and coal dust supported by chewy tannins to a long and strong finish. It’s a big, savoury and hearty red wine that will leave many Chateauneuf-du-Papes in its dust.