What is Vieilles Vignes Wine? (Characteristics, 10 Best Bottles, Prices 2024)

A descriptor you’ll occasionally see on wine labels, Vieilles Vignes denotes that the wine is a product of old grapevines.

How old is old?

There’s no agreed definition for old, but reputed producers use the term for 30- to 40-year-old vines.

In this article, we’ll explore what makes Vieilles Vignes wines special, their characteristics, and the 10 best Vielles Vignes bottles in 2022. We’ll also look at their investment potential and unveil exotic old vines from around the world.

Why Are Vieilles Vignes Wines So Special?

To truly appreciate Vieilles Vignes wines, you need to understand a vine’s lifecycle:

• 0-3 years: The vine takes root, and branches form. However, the grapes produced during this period don’t have the quality for wine production.
• 3-25 years: This period is optimal for vine growth since the roots protrude deep into the subsoil, nourishing the vine better. Fruit quantity and quality increase with vine age during this time.
• 25+ years: Beyond the 25-year mark, grape yield goes down. But the fruit quality improves, producing complex, balanced, and flavorful wines.

Wondering why the fruit quality improves?

The roots of old vines penetrate deep into the soil, anchoring the vine better, providing a stable water supply, and nourishing the fewer grapes well. That’s why the Vieilles Vignes grapes are packed with flavors and aromas.

And, since the grape yield is low, the winemaker pays close attention to the vinification or wine production processes — for example, natural yeast fermentation in concrete vats, malolactic fermentation in oak barrels, maceration, aging, etc.

Thanks to the exceptional grape quality and careful wine production processes, the finished Vieilles Vignes wines boast enticing characteristics.

The Characteristics Of Vieilles Vignes Wines

Vieilles Vignes wines flaunt concentrated flavors and an outstanding balance between tannin, acidity, and sugar levels. 

Also, since the old vines absorb nutrients from deep underground, Vieilles Vignes wines precisely reflect the nuances of their unique terroir.

Want to pick a bottle of Vieilles Vignes wine for your cellar?

10 Exquisite Vieilles Vignes Wines Worthy Of Your Collection

Here are 10 stunning Vieilles Vignes vintages to buy in 2024:

• 2008 Bollinger Vieilles Vignes Francaises Blanc de Noirs
• 2013 Domaine Comte Georges de Vogue Musigny Grand Cru ‘Cuvee Vieilles Vignes’
• 1995 Joseph & Philippe Roty Charmes-Chambertin Tres Vieilles Vignes Grand Cru
• 2005 Domaine Alain Voge Cornas Les Vieilles Vignes
• 2015 Caves Cooperatives de Donnas Vieilles Vignes ‘Donnas Superieur’
• 2017 Chateau Los Boldos Vieilles Vignes Cabernet Sauvignon
• 2014 Tselepos Canava Chrissou ‘Vieilles Vignes’ Assyrtiko
• 2015 Framingham F-Series Old Vine Riesling
• 2018 Gerard & Pierre Morin Sancerre Vieilles Vignes Sauvignon Blanc
• 2017 Chateau de Fesles Anjou Chenin Sec La Chapelle Vieilles Vignes

1. 2008 Bollinger Vieilles Vignes Francaises Blanc de Noirs, Champagne, France ($3,010)

This Pinot Noir opens with mocha and hazelnut fragrances. It has a precise, saline, and lemony palate highlighting spice and verbena notes.

2. 2013 Domaine Comte Georges de Vogue Musigny Grand Cru ‘Cuvee Vieilles Vignes’, Cote de Nuits, France ($871)

This classy red wine reveals berry fruit, cinnamon, and anise aroma on the nose. Its harmonious palate unfolds with strawberry, crushed stone, and new oak flavors.

3. 1995 Joseph & Philippe Roty Charmes-Chambertin Tres Vieilles Vignes Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits, France ($495)

This Pinot Noir’s nose expresses spice, coffee, and earth notes. It boasts a deep, full-bodied palate with subtle minerality and a high tannin level.

4. 2005 Domaine Alain Voge Cornas Les Vieilles Vignes, Rhone Valley, France ($145)

This Rhone Valley wine’s acacia flower, blackberry, and licorice aroma culminate in a fruity palate with enticing freshness and floral flavors.

5. 2015 Caves Cooperatives de Donnas Vieilles Vignes ‘Donnas Superieur’, Aosta Valley, Italy ($49)

Its captivating nose showcases plum and mountain herb aromas. Dark fruit, tobacco, and white pepper flavors on the palate give way to a long, fresh finish.

6. 2017 Chateau Los Boldos Vieilles Vignes Cabernet Sauvignon, Cachapoal Valley, Chile ($45)

Plum and tree bark aromas characterize this vintage’s nose, while herbal and white pepper flavors dominate the red wine’s zesty palate.'

7. 2014 Tselepos Canava Chrissou ‘Vieilles Vignes’ Assyrtiko, Santorini, Greece ($45)

This white wine’s expressive nose flaunts slate and lemon aromas. Its full-bodied palate unveils pineapple and grapefruit flavors with a touch of minerality.

8. 2015 Framingham F-Series Old Vine Riesling, Marlborough, New Zealand ($37)

This old vine vintage from New Zealand offers floral and paraffin aromas. It has a creamy, rich palate with peach and citrus flavors in the finish.

9. 2018 Gerard & Pierre Morin Sancerre Vieilles Vignes Sauvignon Blanc, Loire, France ($27)

This fragrant and softly herbal white wine has a creamy texture, lively freshness, and bright acidity.

10. 2017 Chateau de Fesles Anjou Chenin Sec La Chapelle Vieilles Vignes, Loire, France ($15)

Spicy, nutty, and orange-zest flavors complement this dry Chenin Blanc’s steely texture and complex aftertaste.

Investment Potential Of Vieilles Vignes Wines

While there’s no universal definition for “Vieilles Vignes,” renowned wine producers typically use the descriptor when the vine age is around 30-40 years. 

Wines produced from these old vines receive enviable scores from acclaimed critics. For example, Wine Spectator gave the 2005 Domaine Alain Voge Cornas Les Vieilles Vignes an admirable 93 points.

Vieilles Vignes wines from reputed brands also show excellent price appreciation:

• The price of 2008 Bollinger Vieilles Vignes Francaises Blanc de Noirs went up by an incredible 113%, from $1,411 in May 2021 to $3,010 in February 2022.
• The 2005 Domaine Alain Voge Cornas Les Vieilles Vignes rose by around 58% within a year, going from $87 in February 2020 to $138 in January 2021.

If you’re looking for an easy way to invest in a premium Vieilles Vignes bottle, use Vinovest.

Vinovest is the ultimate AI-based wine investment app, helping you invest in premium, investment-grade wines from anywhere in the world.

We’ll take a tour around the world’s “old vine” regions next:

Old Vines From Around The World

Slovenia is home to the oldest grape-producing vine globally, a Žametovka vine from the 17th century. However, this vine produces just enough wine to fill 100 miniature bottles each year.

Located south of Slovenia, in northeast Italy, is a 350-year old Versoaln vine grown at Castel Katzenzungen. The old vine’s fruit is blended with newer vine grapes to produce around 500 bottles of wine a year.

The world’s oldest vine, with an authenticated minimum age, grows at the Hampton Court Palace in England. This Schiava Grossa grape variety vine was transplanted there in 1768.

Head west of England, and you’ll reach Turkey Flat in Barossa Valley, Australia — home to the oldest continually producing commercial vineyard in the world. Its Shiraz grape variety vines were planted in 1847.

Mother Vine of Roanoke Island is the oldest grapevine in North America, believed to be around 400 years old.

Experience The Complex Flavors Of A Premium Vieilles Vignes Wine Today!

Vieilles Vignes wines are produced carefully and boast concentrated flavors and complex aromas. These wines, enjoyed by wine critics and enthusiasts alike, showcase excellent investment potential.

Check out the Vinovest website to see how you can invest in premium Vieilles Vignes wines.

Vinovest is an online wine investment platform you can use to buy, store, and sell investment-grade fine wines.