Juliénas wines grow across the southern and south-eastern slopes of Mont du Bessay, which has a wealth of different terroirs! This hillside is divided into zones of granitic, sedimentary and “rotten rock” soils, which is what makes it possible to store these Beaujolais crus for several years without any loss of quality.
Subtly spicy, this appellation lives up to its name, which it gets from...
A WINE AS POWERFUL AS JULIUS CAESAR
Juliénas wines are so called in honor of Julius Caesar who occupied the region in 100BC. It’s possible that his legions were already growing vines back then...
But the allusion to Julius Caesar isn’t just in the appellation. The granite terroir, rich in alluvial deposits, also confers a singular power on these Beaujolais wines. Its character isn’t entirely dissimilar to that of the indomitable general, who would surely appreciate the subtle mix of fruits and spices that emanate from Juliénas wines.
There is no shortage of adjectives to describe this outstanding Beaujolais cru: vigorous, robust, structured, seductive and elegant. Characteristics that are also used to describe Julius Caesar. The wine is so like him that it verges on insolence!
And that’s not all...
A WINE AS COURAGEOUS AS A LEGIONNAIRE
Juliénas wines grow at heights of 250 to 470 meters above sea level on a slope that gets steeper and steeper. The vines are planted in poor soil and need all their strength and courage to grow properly and find the resources they require.
The Gamay noir à nus blanc variety is perfectly capable of this and guarantees a high-quality production. The courage of the vines is reflected in the complex bouquet of bottles of Juliénas: the floral, fruity, spicy aromas and mineral notes make for a harmonious blend.
A WINE AS WELCOMING AS THE GAULS
Juliénas is not known only for its excellent wines. It is also a charming village of around 800 inhabitants, a lively tourist haven that extends a warm welcome to travelers who come to discover the Beaujolais crus as well as anyone seeking to permanently settle in the village.
This small town is packed with places to visit such as the Old Church, the Caveau, the Bois de la Salle chateau, Juliénas chateau and the Maison de la dîme. Of course, there are also many wineries ready to help you discover the flavors of a Juliénas wine.
And if you decide to visit the Beaujolais region in summer, don’t miss the Juliénales in July: A friendly and sociable 3-day festival with wine tastings in the village center!
Any tour of the Beaujolais vineyards should include a visit to Juliénas. The village is a great place for rest and relaxation and also an extraordinary journey into a verdant countryside. Juliénas’ rustic side and the olde-worlde charm of the village often something akin to a fabulous journey back in time...
Though they were not formally grouped under the AOP label until 1938, the vineyards of Juliénas were known even to the Romans, who were so enamored the wines grown there that they named the area’s eponymous hub and a smaller satellite, Jullié, after Julius Caesar himself (or so the story goes).
Today, the region covers 600ha of vineyards spread over four primary villages: the main town, Juliénas, situated on a moderate rise just to the west of the Saone River, and Jullié, Emeringes and Pruzilly, which lie a bit further up the slopes to the west of Juliénas itself. Some 120 growers produce within the boundaries of the cru.
The most defining aspect of Juliénas from a terroir perspective is the shift from the igneous-dominant slopes to the west of the zone, peppered with blue granite and diorite, to the flatter areas around the town of Juliénas itself, where the soils transition through to schist and alluvium with pockets of sand and clay.
Wines produced from fruit grown on the western slopes tend to possess a precise floral profile, moderate tannins and bright acidity. As one moves down the slope in the direction of the Saone, the wines become more immediately fruit- and spice-driven. Many growers elect to blend parcels from both sides of the appellation to attain an approachable middle-ground without sacrificing too much structure.
In 19th centry, there are there crus were listed: Les Chieres, Les Mouilles & Les Capitains。While there are not many famous winery in here, but you may find Domaine du Clos Fief Chateau Julienas & Domaine David-Beaupere。Georges Duboeuf also own Chateau des Capitains here。
Typical aromas and flavors of Juliénas include black cherries, currant, and warm spice. In general, the wines are dense, dark and weighty, though occasionally lacking the firm structure that marks some of the crus further south.
Ref.:
https://www.beaujolais.com/en/article/julienas-appellation-wines-with-character
http://www.clubcrusbeaujolais.com/crus.html
