2008 Domaine de la Vieille Julienne Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Community Tasting Notes (15) Median Score: 91 points

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  10/22/2018 - RGCM Gananda wrote: 91 Points

  Prior bottle was a bit over 10 months ago and this bottle probably showed the best of my original four. More black cherry (as opposed to red) on the nose this time, mixed with mineral qualities, some light earthiness and a touch of vanilla. Remains medium bodied, but black cherry being the dominant upfront note with some brighter, lighter red cherry qualities behind. Mid-body showed some very nice mineral qualities, good acidity and fine grained tannins. Blind, I still don't think I would peg this as a Rhone, but the fruit and structure notes felt more in balance here than they have in any of my prior bottles. The fruit notes shine through while the tannins and acidity provide structure and tartness, especially towards the backside, but without an overly drying or harsh, astringent notes. Drank upon opening and over the course of the next three hours, I felt it showed better like this than letting it breathe. Given how the various elements showed tonight, it does have the possibility of future improvement and while it will never be a blockbuster (despite the 15% ABV), as it continues to integrate, it should show all its elements to better overall effect.

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  7/8/2018 - Doctor Koulodare Likes this wine: 94 Points

  Now 10 years old, this lovely Chateauneuf-du-Pape has raisin and plum notes, with the camphor olive hints of the appellation. The tannins have mellowed, but they are there, complementing the sweet spice and jammy notes.

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  12/5/2017 - RGCM Gananda wrote: 90 Points

  Prior bottle was just over a year ago and this time, it showed a bit better. Red cherry and mineral notes on the nose. Medium bodied and very soft and open upfront with red cherry and some brighter red berry notes upfront. Rounds out a bit through the middle before adding some structure on the backside. Tannins provide a good backbone, but were more in balance than previously and the oak was better integrated. Mineral, earth and tobacco notes on the finish. Accessible within a half hour of opening and I thought it actually showed better initially as the longer it was open, the more the tannins and oak became dominant. Still not particularly impressed with this wine as it lacks the power and complexity that I'd expect from a CdP. However, my mistake last time was clearly letting it stand open too long. This isn't fading or drying out as it clearly has enough back-end structure and front-end fruit to last, but just not sure that patience will be rewarded with something considerably more than what you have today. I will probably drink my last bottle within the next year.

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  3/23/2017 - pipetree wrote:

  Blind2: semi-lucent ruby with a brownish tint and sediment, petrol like, strawberry, seed oil, alcohol on the nose: medium acidity, dry, medium furry tannin, medium alcohol, medium+ body. oky, Boxwood. Okay finish.

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  1/3/2017 - WineCPA wrote: 88 Points

  Very structured and full of red berry on the palate. Unremarkable.

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View all 15 Community Tasting Notes

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