Domaine de la Vieille Julienne’s 2015 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Réserve is the estate’s small-production, Grenache-led flagship from very old vines, farmed biodynamically under Jean-Paul Daumen. It’s sourced from a tiny parcel of the domaine’s oldest plantings (often cited as over a century old) on predominantly sandy soils, and it’s made in a polished, low-yield, concentration-forward style. The cellar approach is traditional for the estate: destemmed fruit, cement-vat vinification, and élevage in large, neutral vessels (foudres), a regimen intended to preserve fruit purity and texture rather than emphasize oak.

Critical reception for the 2015 is exceptional. Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate published a 97–100-point review, with Jeb Dunnuck calling it “thick, unctuous, layered and multi-dimensional” and adding that it’s “one of the most singular and impressive wines made in the world.” Dunnuck later scored it 98 points at jebdunnuck.com, writing that it is “unquestionably one of the wines of the vintage,” with “ultra-fine tannin,” a “layered mid-palate,” and a finish that supports “two decades” of development.

Wine Spectator’s 97-point note underscores how the wine carries its weight: “well-packed and intense” with a sweep of dark berry fruit, plus “anise, black tea and singed mesquite details,” and—crucially—“remarkably refined,” with “graphite and chalky minerality deftly stitched throughout.” The magazine recommends drinking from 2020 through 2045, suggesting both structure and staying power.

Jeff Leve (The Wine Cellar Insider) also landed at 98 points, emphasizing sheer density—“the most concentrated wine in 2015”—but stresses that “everything is in balance and harmony,” with persistence that “keeps on going.” Reported blends vary by source, but all accounts agree the wine is overwhelmingly Grenache, supported by small portions of other Rhône varieties.