Le Vieux Donjon - Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2022 (750ml)
Price: $69.99
| Producer | Le Vieux Donjon |
| Country | France |
| Region | Rhone Valley |
| Subregion | Chateauneuf du Pape |
| Varietal | Rhone Blend |
| Vintage | 2022 |
| Sku | 5574 |
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Le Vieux Donjon Description
Le Vieux Donjon is a French wine producer located in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The modern estate was established by Marcel Michel in 1966, a young estate by European standards but around a third of the ancient vines are more than 100 years old.
Unlike many Châteauneuf-du-Pape producers, Le Vieux Donjon does not make a separate bottling from its old-vine grapes. Rather, the estate produces a single white cuvée and one red Châteauneuf-du-Pape blend from classic Rhône varieties.
The estate owns 18 hectares (44 acres) of vineyard in the southern Rhône, all of it farmed organically. These are almost exclusively planted to red varieties, including Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah and Cinsaut. Just one hectare of the vineyard is planted to the white varieties Roussanne, Grenache Blanc and Clairette for Le Vieux Donjon Blanc.
The estate's best sites are planted to old-vine Grenache and encompass lieux-dits such as Le Pied Long, Le Mourre de Gaud, Champigne, Bois de Boursan and Cabrieres. After fermentation, the blend is aged for six months in cement tanks, then around one year in oak foudres. The Le Vieux Donjon Blanc is an equal blend of Roussane and Clairette, spending six months aging in stainless steel tank prior to bottling.
Le Vieux Donjon remains family-owned and is currently run by third generation family members Claire Fabre and Francois Michel. The estate produces around 4200 cases of the Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge and some 300 cases of the Blanc a year.
James Suckling: 94 Points
A well-crafted, balanced and refined red. This has notes of sweet cherries, dried herbs, red berries and mild spices. Medium- to full-bodied with fine yet firm tannins. Juicier at the center with a solid frame of tannins coating the palate at this stage. Bright fruit with plenty of vitality in the long, peppery finish.
Vinous: 93 Points
As is custom at this address, the 2022 Chateauneuf-du-Pape spent one year in old oak foudres. Neatly blending 75% Grenache with 10% Mouvedre, 10% Syrah and 5% Cinsault, it unwinds with notes of violet, forest strawberry, licorice, black cherry and graphite. Open-knit and inviting, the 2022 is gently framed by ripe tannins that won't need as much time to mellow as in 2020 or 2019. Finishing on a savory note, this expressive Chateauneuf smoothly integrates its 15.25% alcohol and comes highly recommended.
