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Juliénas is one of the ten crus of Beaujolais. In the collective imagination, Beaujolais is often associated with the famous Beaujolais Nouveau, although this is only part of the region’s production. There’s also Beaujolais village, Beaujolais blanc – which accounts for just 3% of production – and the famous ten crus du Beaujolais.
The latter are geographically delimited appellations identified by their exceptional terroir. The best known are Brouilly, Morgon and Moulin-à-Vent… but Juliénas has nothing to envy them. Juliénas is exclusively a red wine produced in 3 communes: Juliénas, Jullié and Emeringes.
The Juliénas appellation has a rich history
The Appellation d’Origine Protégée (AOP) dates back to 1938, making it one of the first in France, but its history began much earlier. Juliénas has been cultivated since the Gallo-Roman period. It’s even said that the name Juliénas comes directly from Julius Caesar. In fact, the two names are quite similar phonetically. It is said that during the Gallic War, Julius Caesar and his Roman legions stopped off at Juliénas for a bite to eat and a little rest.
It’s a place steeped in history, and if you’re passing by, don’t hesitate to imitate the Romans and stop off at Juliénas. You can visit the 13th-century Château du Juliénas and even drop by the cellar to taste a wine or two. Today, Juliénas owes its fame mainly to Victor Peyret, who was the Cru’s ambassador in the early 20th century.
In particular, he made Juliénas famous among the editors of the newspaper Le Canard Enchaîné, to whom he was close and who themselves popularized it. Legend has it that the newspaper’s journalists owe their inspiration to the glass of Juliénas in which they dip their pens…
Where is Juliénas produced?
Situated in part of the Saône-et-Loire and Rhône departments, the Juliénas vineyard covers 585 hectares. The vineyards are hilly, as they are located in the Monts du Beaujolais. The altitude varies between 250 and 470 meters: the spectacle of the vines moving up and down the hills, animated by the play of light and shadow, is magnificent.
Thanks to its altitude, Juliénas benefits from a mountain influence on its semi-continental climate, bringing freshness to the wines. The hilly terrain is also interesting in that it creates microclimates depending on the exposure of the vines, giving Juliénas a wide variety of nuances.
The soils are mainly Fleurie schist and granite, a poor, draining soil that is ideal for viticulture. It is mainly planted with Gamay à jus blanc, the grape variety emblematic of Beaujolais and its crus.
Where is Juliénas produced?
Situated in part of the Saône-et-Loire and Rhône departments, the Juliénas vineyard covers 585 hectares. The vineyards are hilly, as they are located in the Monts du Beaujolais. The altitude varies between 250 and 470 meters: the spectacle of the vines moving up and down the hills, animated by the play of light and shadow, is magnificent.
Thanks to its altitude, Juliénas benefits from a mountain influence on its semi-continental climate, bringing freshness to the wines. The hilly terrain is also interesting in that it creates microclimates depending on the exposure of the vines, giving Juliénas a wide variety of nuances.
The soils are mainly Fleurie schist and granite, a poor, draining soil that is ideal for viticulture. It is mainly planted with Gamay à jus blanc, the grape variety emblematic of Beaujolais and its crus.
Juliénas is a full-bodied, gourmet wine offering excellent value for money.
On the tasting side, Juliénas is a wine with a full-bodied, yet gourmet profile. A wine with a beautiful nervousness that seduces with its elegance and finesse. Juliénas wines have a purplish color that gradually darkens with age, and generally reveal scents of gourmet red berries such as raspberry, strawberry or blackcurrant, as well as floral notes of violet or peony. Depending on the wine, there may also be a hint of spice.
On the palate, Juliénas is a structured wine with present but supple tannins, well-balanced by its fresh finish. Juliénas should be served chilled, at around 14°C. Don’t hesitate to cellar it for a few years to fully appreciate the finesse of this vintage. In general, a Juliénas can be kept for 10 years.
What to serve with a Juliénas
To accompany a lovely bottle of Juliénas, there’s nothing like an elegant guinea fowl à l’orange or a generous beef shepherd’s pie.
More generally, Juliénas is appreciated with red meats, poultry in sauce, and certain cheeses.
2020, 2018, 2017 and 2013, four vintages not to be missed in Juliénas
The quality of the 2020 vintage is there for all to see: the wines are well-balanced and fresh. Gourmet and crunchy, they’re a real delight. 2018 was an exceptional year, with concentrated, complex and intense wines. 2017 reveals wines with explosive fruit, ripe and concentrated tannins, a great vintage. Finally, 2013 seduces with its freshness and aromatic intensity.
When should you drink a Juliénas?
A Juilénas AOC wine can be enjoyed between 2 and 8 years from vintage. Of course, there are no hard and fast rules: it all depends on the wine and the vintage in question.
Where can you find passionate Juliénas winemakers?
Domaine de Côtes Rémont
The Côtes Rémont estate is first and foremost known for its Chénas produced on the “En Rémont” terroir, a steeply sloping hillside with exceptional granitic soil that gives the wine remarkable concentration and character. For the past 4 years, they have been putting their know-how to good use on a parcel of Juliénas located at a good altitude on a terroir called “en Boussaud”.
The results are surprisingly precise. The estate covers more than 50 ha, including 7.5 ha of hand-picked vines. You can visit the estate and meet the winemaker in Juliénas, who will tell you all about his love of vines and his authentic wines.
Descombes Wines
The Descombes family has been proud winemakers for 5 generations. In 1905, the family took over Château de Pougelon, a magnificent 17th-century edifice, as well as its vineyards located from north to south in the Beaujolais region in Beaujolais-villages, Morgon, Brouilly, Chiroubles, Fleurie and, of course, Juliénas. In love with nature and its miracles, the family works with sustainable agriculture and harvests by hand.
The estate is currently in the process of obtaining HVE certification. Juliénas Château de Pougelon is a wine of finesse and elegance, structured and well-balanced, with good concentration.
