Pascal Aufranc - Juliénas Probus 2015

Bettane & Desseauve

About the wine:

A harmonious wine with very fine tannins and a long finish. Great balance. A fine wine.

About the estate:

Pascal Aufranc began his winemaking career with just 1.6 hectares, located on the steep hill of En-Rémont, at an altitude of 350 meters. It was here that he renovated an old farmhouse amidst vines planted in the 1930s. These vines, surrounded by oak trees (the name Chénas comes from these woods planted before the vines), now constitute the estate's vineyard: 10 hectares, including 7 in Juliénas, 2 in Chénas, and 1 in Fleurie. This verdant haven, secluded yet offering panoramic views, gives rise to wines with a rich and spicy character, perfectly balanced by their granitic origins. The 2016 vintage is a success, particularly the estate's flagship cuvée, Probus. Wine lovers will likely prefer the Chénas and Fleurie crus in 2017.

Bourgogne Aujourd'hui

About the wine:

Pascal Aufranc has once again received top marks for his outstanding "Probus" vintage. Aromas of flowers (peony, rose) and dark fruits. The wine is very, very rich, yet without a hint of heaviness or excess; on the contrary, it retains great finesse and purity. A great wine!

About the estate:

Pascal Aufranc began his career in 1993, and our tasting of older vintages featured in this issue demonstrates that he has been producing excellent wines for quite some time. His estate covers 9.5 hectares, half in Chénas and half in Juliénas. The estate's two flagship wines received the highest rating of 2013 in their respective appellations. His Chénas Vigne, planted in 1939 on pure pink granite, comes from two parcels adjacent to the estate (a place called Rémont), totaling two hectares. The wine is dense, but perhaps a touch more refined and rounded than the Probus cuvée. The latter is a "juliénas extract," a robust, structured wine built for aging, made from 50-55 year old vines and three parcels in the Les Crots and En Capitans climats on sandy-loam soils. Both wines are vinified in the same way, using whole bunches, "Beaujolais-style," and in a gridded vat; a wooden grid placed over the grapes keeps them submerged in the juice. As for the Juliénas Les Cerisiers cuvée, it's anything but a mere showcase. The vines may be a little younger and the maceration a bit shorter, but it remains a full-bodied, dense Juliénas. "There's fruit, but not only that," explains Pascal Aufranc. (5 vintages awarded by Bourgogne Aujourd'hui)

Guide Hachette des vins

About the wine:

Made from whole clusters and aged partly in oak barrels (30%) for twelve months, this cuvée pays homage to the Roman emperor Probus, who is said to have introduced the Gamay grape to the Beaujolais region. Its balance between fruit and oak, between power and finesse, makes it a Juliénas that stands out from the crowd, supported by silky tannins and a long finish.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

Wine Enthusiast

James Suckling