Log in for prices and ordering
Christened by Robert Parker as “one of the world’s truly magnificent wines,” this rarity is among the most limited and sought-after wines of Châteauneuf. The Vielle Vignes fruit comes from three crown-jewel parcels of exceptionally old vines in Charbonnières and Les Esqueirons. Charbonnières (planted in 1900) lies on the northern side of the Crau plateau, mostly on sandy soils with molasse sandstone. The vines are nearly all Grenache with a few rows of Mourvèdre. The plot in Les Esqueirons lies behind the famous chateau ruins on the hill's western side. Here, the Grenache vines (and some Roussanne) are rooted in limestone and white clay. Some were planted in 1900, and the rest in 1949. The fruit sees the same minimalist treatment as the classic bottling. The taste simply reflects the fruit of these ancient vines and their terroirs. The Domaine does not use new oak throughout the maturation; the wines ferment naturally and are raised for 18 months in concrete and large oak foudres before being bottled unfiltered. The Vieilles Vignes is only produced in great vintages—which, in a way, says it all.