Domaine de La Vieille Julienne : Réservé 2015

This is well-packed and intense, with a wide range of blueberry, blackberry, boysenberry and raspberry pâte de fruit notes laced with anise, black tea and singed mesquite details. Despite the density, this is remarkably refined, with graphite and chalky minerality deftly stitched throughout. Very long. Best from 2020 through 2045. 200 cases made, 50 cases imported.

Meaty, rich, full, earthy. Packs a punch, but has proper substance and persistence too. Growls out of the glass, but purrs down the throat. Suitably hedonistic! (RH)

The deep, dark color is a warmup for all the rich, dark red fruits that are on their way. This could be the most concentrated wine of 2015. The wine is powerful, ripe, and dense. The wealth of fruit here is incredible. But don't let the layers of fruit scare you away. Everything is in balance and harmony here. Long on the palate, the wine just keeps going for perhaps 50 seconds! This is a compelling Chateauneuf du Pape that can age for decades. The wine is made from 90% Grenache, 5% Syrah and 5% Mourvedre.

Lastly, the 2015 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Reserve is unquestionably one of the wines of the vintage. Offering incredible spice, violets, roasted meats, black licorice, cassis and incense, this full-bodied beauty is as ethereal and elegant as they come, yet packs huge amounts of intensity, depth, and length in its perfectly balanced personality. Possessing ultra-fine tannins, a layered mid-palate and a great finish, it’s surprisingly already accessible but will cruise for two decades given its balance and purity. I can’t think of another vintage from Jean-Paul that shows this style of elegance and finesse.

This has some lovely spice and woody, smoky notes on the nose, and spiced raspberry on the palate. It’s full, rounded, generous, silky and fine. Such strong acidity, everything is well balanced. The alcohol feels more present than in a typical vintage, but the tannins are so delicate, so fine and detailed. A great upswell of fruit and juice leads to a saline, mineral finish. Selection from Les Trois Sources, their oldest Grenache. Only produced when the Grenache is good enough.