Domaine de Villeneuve Châteauneuf-du-Pape "Les Vieilles Vignes" 2014

A rather mature red with a rich nose of red berries and hints of leather. On the palete, the red berries dominate, with notes of spiced cherries, orange peel, clay, leather, licorice, mild spices and herbs. Medium body with polished tannins. Grainy texture with a supple and rounded character. Bright fruit at the center with so much grenache character. Succulent finish.

A blend of 70% Grenache, 16% Mourvedre, 8% Syrah, 4% Cinsault and 2% Clairette, the 2014 vintage in Châteauneuf-du-Pape is what is commonly called a “vintner’s vintage,” in the sense that the work done in the vines was a key factor to achieving great results. The working year – which started early in the spring and finished late in the autumn – was exhausting, where experience and anticipation proved key to producing beautiful grapes.

Domaine de Villeneuve is one of the hidden gems of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, an estate of remarkable heritage that has become a beacon of sustainability in the region. Planted on some of the oldest vines of the appellation (ranging from about 30 years to more than 100 years old), the estate lies in the northernmost part of Châteauneuf, across a mosaic of terroirs: pebble-strewn parcels, sandy soils and denser clay, providing extraordinary complexity. To preserve this patrimony, the estate has pursued a rigorous biodynamic philosophy since 1998, making it one of the pioneers of natural viticulture in the appellation.

For winemaker Stanislas Wallut, sustainability is not a fashionable choice but a necessity: he believes the health of the vines relies on reconstituting their immune defences rather than applying chemical “medicine.” With this conviction, grassing and scratching are carefully practiced to balance vigor and ensure deep rooting, while treatments are limited to gentle, under-dosed sulfur and copper enhanced by biodynamic preparations. These century-old vines, cultivated with patience and respect, stand as living proof that Châteauneuf-du-Pape can combine tradition and ecological responsibility at the highest level.

The estate’s cellar is as singular as its vineyards, entirely buried more than six meters underground and constructed from stone blocks of the Gard, creating a naturally aerated and stable environment where temperature and humidity remain constant. Here, Wallut combines tradition with innovation. Fermentation takes place in large concrete vats, and recent additions of ovoid “concrete eggs” allow wines to evolve in perpetual motion, producing cuvées of striking finesse and minerality.

The grapes, harvested with utmost care, are handled by gravity to preserve integrity, then vinified either whole-bunch, crushed, or destemmed depending on the year’s expression. Long fermentations of 20 to 40 days and delicate pigeage ensure a nuanced extraction of polyphenols, giving wines their refined structure.

The domaine produces only two cuvées, crafted from parcels that straddle the boundary between Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Côtes-du-Rhône, yet each bottle resonates with a singular identity rooted in place and practice. Villeneuve’s wines embody purity and depth, carrying the voice of their venerable vines. More than just outstanding bottles, they symbolize a path forward for Châteauneuf-du-Pape, proving that balance, biodiversity and biodynamics can safeguard both legacy and terroir for future generations.