Juliénas is characteristically named after Julius Caesar, since its occupation around 100 BC, wherein the wines produced show strength, fruit, and spice. This is in part due to the high sloping vineyards and the most varied terroir in all of Beaujolais, which strengthen the vines in their poor soil and high drainage: Struggling vines make excellent wines.
Fresh and perfumed, this wine has red fruit brightness as well as deep tannins.
Wine Description
Reviews / Scores / Notes
92 Points (2019 vintage review) – John Gilman, View From The Cellar
“The 2019 Juliénas from Marine Descombes is partially destemmed, fermented with native yeasts and raised in cement vats. The wine shows some lovely developmental complexity in its aromatic constellation, wafting from the glass in a complex blend of cherries, cranberries, vinesmoke, a touch of sweet stem tones, a beautiful base of soil, fresh thyme and the very first vestiges of sous bois. On the palate the wine is bright, full-bodied, focused and tangy, with a beautiful core of fruit, excellent soil signature and grip, still a dollop of backend tannin and a long, well balanced and complex finish. This is the current release of Juliénas from Madame Descombes and it is drinking splendidly today, but clearly also possesses the potential to age another decade or more in bottle. Fine, fine juice! 2025-2040+”
-John Gilman, published by View From The Cellar. Suggested drinking: 2025-2040+.
Wine Enthusiast Best of Year 2023 Buying Guide: 91 Points, Editor’s Choice
“Deep ruby in color, this wine has a perfumed nose of raspberry, black tea and red currant with a hint of blueberry. Slightly grippy tannin affords added texture with some savory notes on the back palate. This Juliénas tends towards ripe summer fruit tempered by forest floor. Mary Taylor Wine. Editors’ Choice.”
– Reggie Solomon, Wine Enthusiast, The Enthusiast 100: Best Wines of 2023. wineenthusiast.com
“Domaine in the Descombe family for 120 years; on bluestone schist. A properly plummy Julienas, that character tweaked nicely by age and given floral overtones by its stylist. Singular and attractive take./ Yes, plum and floral perfumes reverberate on the palate. The sweet gentleness of vintage, age, and elevage. Taylor transparent and elegant. Truly its own thing. 16.7.” – David Scheer, Village Corner, Ann Arbor, MI
From the northernmost of the cru villages in the Beaujolais, this small appellation is known for its steep and ancient bluestone schist slopes. The Descombe family has farmed these south-facing slopes for more than 120 years in the heart of Beaujolais at an altitude of 400 meters. The farming and winemaking practices are committed to sustainability and respect for their soil and their vines.
Ensuring the highest quality of fruit for this bottling starts in the fields, with hand harvesting and strict sorting of the clusters in the vineyard and cellar. Whole clusters are fermented in concrete tanks and assisted by native yeasts for a nineteen-day maceration before pressing. The wine then rests in more concrete for 15 months to age.
Hand harvesting, biodiversity in the vineyards with rows of forest lining the plots, partial destemming, natural yeasts and ageing in gentle cement vats leads to a wine of elegance and grace.
Size: 750ml
Appellation: Juliénas
Soil Type: Blue stones, slate, and diorite
Varieties: 100% Gamay
Farming: Sustainable
Alcohol: 13.5%
Aging Details: Concrete
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| 91pts WE | |
