Wine Advocate (96)

Up in the top handful of wines in the vintage (which should come as no surprise to anyone who follows this estate), the 2012 Châteauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes is a full-bodied, beautifully concentrated, rich and layered Châteauneuf that doesn’t put a foot wrong. Made from 85% Grenache, 10% Mourvedre and the rest Syrah, it offers blockbuster notes of blackberry, liquid-violets, spice and serious minerality to go with awesome mid-palate depth and layers of sweet tannin. Like the Cuvee Chaupin, it will be better in another handful of years and thrill through 2027.

Wine Advocate (94)

While the cuvée Chaupin comes mostly from sandy soils, the 2013 Châteauneuf du Pape Cuvée Vieilles Vignes comes more from the rolled pebble soils the region is famous for, and always shows the richer, more powerful profile imparted from these soils. Mostly foudre-aged Grenache, it incorporates 20% Mourvèdre and roughly 10% Syrah (slightly more Syrah in 2013) that’s raised all in barrel. Exhibiting a deep purple color, it offers fabulous dark berry fruits, licorice, Provençal herbs and earthy/stony minerality on the nose. Medium to full-bodied, beautifully concentrated, ripe and with impressive sweetness to its tannin, it's a fabulous wine that will have 10-15 years of overall longevity.

Vinous (93-95)

Bright ruby. Intensely perfumed aromas of fresh red and blue fruits, potpourri and incense gain vivacity from a smoky mineral nuance. Offers deeply concentrated blueberry, black raspberry, spicecake and floral pastille flavors, while suggestions of candied licorice and white pepper emerge on the back half. Finishes on a suave, alluringly sweet note of red fruit liqueur, featuring slowly emerging tannins and outstanding vivacity and focus.

Vinous (93-95)

Bright ruby. Intensely perfumed aromas of fresh red and blue fruits, potpourri and incense gain vivacity from a smoky mineral nuance. Offers deeply concentrated blueberry, black raspberry, spicecake and floral pastille flavors, while suggestions of candied licorice and white pepper emerge on the back half. Finishes on a suave, alluringly sweet note of red fruit liqueur, featuring slowly emerging tannins and outstanding vivacity and focus.

Wine Advocate (98)

The 2015 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Vieilles Vignes is a tour de force. Raspberry and apricot-scented fruit, rich chocolate notes and an incredible whirlwind of spice are delivered in this full-bodied wine that shows no heat, just waves of flavor. It should drink well for 20 years or more.

Jeb Dunnuck (99)

Bottled at the same time, the 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Vieilles Vignes gives up more cassis, tapenade, underbrush, cured meats, and earth, and it’s a slightly more dense, backward wine compared to the Chaupin. Full-bodied and beautifully concentrated, with tons of structure, it stays fresh and elegant, has sweet tannins, and a blockbuster finish. It's an incredible, borderline perfect wine from this estate that will keep for two decades or more.

Jeb Dunnuck (99)

Bottled at the same time, the 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Vieilles Vignes gives up more cassis, tapenade, underbrush, cured meats, and earth, and it’s a slightly more dense, backward wine compared to the Chaupin. Full-bodied and beautifully concentrated, with tons of structure, it stays fresh and elegant, has sweet tannins, and a blockbuster finish. It's an incredible, borderline perfect wine from this estate that will keep for two decades or more.

Jeb Dunnuck (98)

The 2017 Châteauneuf Du Pape Cuvée Vieilles Vignes is another killer effort from this estate. Coming from the La Janasse and La Crau lieux-dits and brought up in foudre, its deep purple color is followed by blockbuster notes of crème de cassis, blackberries, chocolate, graphite, and earthy, rocky, mineral-like nuances. It's deep and full-bodied, with a ripe, powerful yet balanced style and a great finish. A classic example of this cuvée. it's going to benefit from short-term cellaring and keep for two decades or more.

Jeb Dunnuck (98)

The 2017 Châteauneuf Du Pape Cuvée Vieilles Vignes is another killer effort from this estate. Coming from the La Janasse and La Crau lieux-dits and brought up in foudre, its deep purple color is followed by blockbuster notes of crème de cassis, blackberries, chocolate, graphite, and earthy, rocky, mineral-like nuances. It's deep and full-bodied, with a ripe, powerful yet balanced style and a great finish. A classic example of this cuvée. it's going to benefit from short-term cellaring and keep for two decades or more.

Vinous (95)

Dark violet. A deeply perfumed bouquet evokes ripe red/blue fruits, incense and exotic spices, and a floral accent builds as the wine opens up. Sweet and expansive in the mouth, offering lush black raspberry, boysenberry and spicecake flavors that are energized by a core of juicy acidity. Shows excellent clarity and solid, spicy thrust on a long, sweet finish framed by velvety tannins.

Experience the elegant and riveting charm of the Jules Desjourneys Fleurie Chapelle Bois 2012, a high-calibre vintage from the renowned Beaujolais region of France. This superb varietal, painstakingly crafted by esteemed producer Fabien Duperray, boasts impeccable balance, finesse, and depth. A luminary in the French winemaking scene, Duperray is famed for his rigorous selection process, indulging only in old vines and manual harvesting to ensure maximum flavour and quality.

The Jules Desjourneys Fleurie Chapelle Bois 2012 exudes opulent floral and red fruit aromas, underpinned by a vivacious minerality and spicy complexity earned through 24 months of oak-ageing. Its lingering finish, remarkable freshness, and poised texture truly reflect the impeccable terroir of Fleurie's Chapel of Wood. A testament to the producer's scrupulous methods and year-long dedication, this wine radiates elegance and sophistication, captivating the palates of discerning wine enthusiasts. Savour the refined brilliance of the Jules Desjourneys Fleurie Chapelle Bois 2012 to elevate any gastronomic experience.

The Jules Desjourneys Fleurie Chapelle Bois 2014 is an exquisite representation of French winemaking expertise. Sourced from the historic Fleurie region of Beaujolais, the 2014 vintage envelops the palate with notes of red cherry, raspberries, and creamy licorice nuances, underscored by characteristic granitic minerality. The 50-year-old vines grow on sloping Chapelle des Bois vineyard, naturally yielding low quantities and intensifying flavour concentration.

Jules Desjourneys, meticulously nurtures each vine, using biodynamic farming principles. The mastery lies in traditional winemaking techniques, boasting hand-harvesting, fermenting in concrete vats, and ageing in old oak foudres, culminating in an elegant and complex wine.

This vintage's magnetic charm lies in its velvety texture, interlaced with supple tannins and a spell-binding finish. The Jules Desjourneys Fleurie Chapelle Bois 2014 is, indeed, a tantalising indulgence for discerning oenophiles.

Experience the epitome of Beauijolais grandeur with the Jules Desjourneys Fleurie Chapelle Bois 2020. Produced in the spellbinding vineyards of Fleurie, in the heart of the French Beaujolais region, this exquisite wine is the brainchild of meticulous viticulturist, Fabien Duperray. Employing organic practices in the lush hillside vineyards, Duperray meticulously nurtures Gamay grapes, compromising nothing in the pursuit of impeccable quality. This exquisite Fleurie is aged in Burgundian barrels adding to its complex structure and enhancing the purity of the Gamay fruit.

The Jules Desjourneys Fleurie Chapelle Bois 2020 titillates with a profound bouquet of crushed black cherries, wild berries and spices, underpinned by subtle earthy undertones. On the palate, it boasts a silky yet generous body with a vibrant acidity and mineral-infused finish that elegantly lingers. This remarkable blend showcases the distinctive charm and meticulous craft that Jules Desjourneys wines are renowned for. Truly a quintessential Beaujolais indulgence.

Wine Spectator (89)

Pretty berry, chocolate and vanilla character, with medium body, fine tannins and a silky finish. Lacks a bit of punch, but a very good wine. Best after 2006. 17,500 cases made. -JS

Wine Spectator (89)

Pretty berry, chocolate and vanilla character, with medium body, fine tannins and a silky finish. Lacks a bit of punch, but a very good wine. Best after 2006. 17,500 cases made. -JS

James Suckling (91)

This is racy for a 2006 with plenty of tobacco, berries and hints of mushroom. Light, stylish earthy character. Medium to full body, fine tannins and a pretty finish with lovely tension. Drink or hold.

Wine Advocate (93)

One of the most beautiful wines of the vintage, the dark ruby/purple-colored La Lagune exhibits sweet cassis, camphor, truffle and white chocolate notes presented in a dense, medium to full-bodied, silky textured personality. Filled with purity, finesse, elegance and authoritative flavor intensity, this 2008 is already drinkable and should continue to evolve for 15+ years.

James Suckling (96)

This shows an enchanting nose of roses, violets and other flowers. It's also fruity but very subtle. A full-body, super-structured red with an excellent backbone of ripe yet firm tannins. Goes on for minutes. Don’t touch for five or six years. Try in 2019.

Vinous - Neal Martin (92)

The 2014 La Lagune has a tightly wound bouquet that may have closed down since I last tasted it. It begins to open with blackberry, graphite and wet limestone scents, quite strict and focused, but very well defined and showing great clarity. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, and density with a little chalkiness showing towards the second half. I like the tension and energy, lingering long in the mouth. It will need several years in bottle but it will be worth the wait. Tasted at the La Lagune vertical at the château.