Despite our already large portfolio of Châteauneuf estates, we did not hesitate when we had the opportunity to add Jean Paul Daumen’s wines to our list! These are very serious offerings, possessing a class so coveted by many other producers. With 10 hectares of vines located in the very northern part of Châteauneuf du Pape (Le Grès) and 5 hectares of Côtes du Rhône on the lieudit ‘Clavin’, Jean Paul’s wines are never crafted in the blockbuster style favoured by so many others during the past decade. Vieille Julienne’s wines are completely unique and hugely sought after!

This family owned estate has been in the hands of the Daumen clan since 1905. Jean Paul took over from his father in 1990 – the subsequent rise in quality of wine from this domaine has been outstanding. There are now 32 hectares of vineyards with an average age of the vines at around 50 years. Many are planted following a strict selection massale.
Jean Paul’s philosophy is “that the vine and the soil are the essentials”. He has therefore chosen a fully ecological viticultural approach. He has abandoned all use of chemical fertilisers and only uses sulphur very sparingly.

All grapes are harvested by hand and sorted twice. Only indigenous yeasts are used. Fermentation temperature is monitored and controlled. Wines are gravity fed into barrels, where they age for 12 months after malolactic fermentation has finished. Bottling is carried out with neither fining nor filtration.