“Intense notes of bay leaf, clove, and savory, along with deep notes of black cherry and elderberry, make this a unique Juliénas. Concentrated yet very fresh, it boasts lively acidity and chocolatey tannins that develop steadily on the long, compact finish. A cuvée from the Les Chers, Les Crots, and Les Capitains terroirs. A wine for aging. Drink now or cellar.” (James Suckling 2022).
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Eye
Purple with garnet highlights
Nose
Offers a dense, intense profile rich in black fruit and spices
Palate
Very full-bodied, with beautiful complexity, it offers smoky notes, followed by black cherry, then violet and peony, before giving way to elegant tannins
Serve
13° to 15°C
Drink before
2030+
Guard
Ages 0 to 15
Food and wine pairings
It pairs perfectly with black olive stew, coq au vin, Sisteron lamb...
Bettane & Desseauve
Rated estate (2023 guide) 2*Stars (A solid, recommendable vintage, though slightly more consistent and uniform than the previous one)
About the estate:
Pascal Aufranc began his career as a winemaker with just 1.6 hectares, located on the steep hillside of En-Rémont, at an elevation of 350 meters. It is here that he renovated an old farmhouse amidst vineyards planted in the 1930s. These vineyards, surrounded by oak trees (the name “Chénas” comes from these woods planted before the vines), now make up the estate’s vineyard: 10 hectares, including 7 in Juliénas, 2 in Chénas, and 1 in Fleurie. This secluded green setting, hidden from view yet offering a panoramic vista, produces wines with a rich, spicy body perfectly balanced by their granite-based terroir. The 2016 vintages are excellent, particularly the estate’s flagship cuvée, Probus. Connoisseurs will prefer the Chénas and Fleurie crus from 2017.
Bourgogne Aujourd'hui
Wine rated 15.5/20
Rated as a Safe Bet
About the wine:
Aromas of ripe, fresh dark fruits: blackberries, blueberries... Concentrated, fruity, and lively on the palate. The wine isn't quite ready yet, but it has potential!
About the estate:
Pascal Aufranc began his career in 1993, and our tasting of old 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 “best” rating among the 2013 vintages in their respective appellations. His Chénas Vigne de 1939 (the year of planting), grown on pure pink granite, comes from two plots adjacent to the estate (known as Rémont) totaling two hectares. The wine is dense, but undoubtedly a bit finer and more rounded than the Probus cuvée. The latter is the “essence of Juliénas,” a robust wine structured for aging, made from 50- to 55-year-old vines and three plots in the Les Crots and En Capitans climats on sandy-loam soils. Both wines are vinified in the same way, using whole clusters, “à la beaujolaise,” and in toasted vats; a wooden grid placed over the grapes keeps them submerged in the juice. As for the Juliénas Les Cerisiers cuvée, it is anything but a mere stopgap. The vines may be a bit younger and the maceration times 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)
Wine Enthusiast
Wine rated 91/100
Estate rated "Recommended" (Wine producer recommended by Wine Enthusiast)
James Suckling
Wine rated (2022 guide) 92/100
Rated: Recommended
About the wine:
Intense notes of bay leaf, clove, and savory, along with deep notes of black cherry and elderberry, make this a unique Juliénas. Concentrated yet very fresh, it features lively acidity and chocolatey tannins that develop smoothly into a long, firm finish. A blend from the Les Chers, Les Crots, and Les Capitains vineyards. A wine for aging. Drink now or age.