Grape Variety: 70% Grenache, 30% Syrah
Alcohol Percentage: 15.5%
Viticulture: Organic Farming
Climate: Mediterranean climate characterized by dry, hot summers, and cool, wet winters
Terroir: Vines grow on a soilbed of sandy terroir in Lieu Dit Pignan and Lieu Dit Les Cassanets with an eastern exposure. Julien follows the biodynamic calendar for intervention on his plots and encourages biodiversity for a strong ecosystem
Ageing: Hand harvested, with grapes partly destemmed. Julien likes to work with a combination of fully stemmed and destemmed grapes to achieve the right balance. The wine is aged for an average of 12 months in Foudres and tank before bottling
Color: Dark burgundy
Nose: Rich bouquet of blackcurrants, balsam and a touch of leather
Palate: Great balanced structure with notes of dark fruits and licorice over a lovely finish
About the Winery:
Julien Masquin, the founder of the estate has a long history in the Chateauneuf du Pape appellation. In fact, Julien Masquin was one of the originators of Cellier des Princes, the local Chateauneuf du Pape Co-operative, which is located in Courthezon.
Their history dates back to 1936 when his family purchased their first vines in Chateauneuf du Pape in Courthezon. At the time, because of the depression and the lack of interest in most Southern Rhone wines, they sold their crop to negociants in bulk.
It had been a difficult (if not impossible) time for most vineyard owners to earn a living in the wine business those days. In fact, the Masquin family was able to make a lot more money from the brush factory they owned. However, they persisted because of their faith, passion and dedication towards glorifying the wines of the region.
In 1998, Julien Masquin began embarking on his career as a winemaker and the new era for Domaine Julien Masquin began with his first vintage in 2009. Today, he owns 7.8 hectares of vines in Chateauneuf du Pape, close to 16 hectares of vines in the Cotes du Rhone appellation and has established themselves as one of the finest boutique producers in Rhone.
