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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 92 pts. and median of 92 pts. in 630 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by ludwigbpm on 4/20/2024 & rated 94 points: Nez évolué sur les épices et la garrigue, très provençal! Bouche fraîche, puissante avec ce millésime qui ajoute une touche de chaleur et concentration. (637 views) | | | Tasted by kostaslonis on 4/19/2024: Brought to drink at Oinoscent during service. Decanted and tasted after 1hr
The wine shows ripe red fruit in the nose, spice, juicy, welcoming, nice developed profile.
Palate copies the nose profile, ripe to overripe red and black fruit, a touch of warmth, raspberry and overripe sour cherry, some herbal bitter notes in the back, med body, elegant, long finish. (589 views) | | | Tasted by brianofthevine on 3/28/2024 & rated 93 points: So good after 14 years. Dark plums and red/black cherries up front. Mostly has given way to the secondary notes of leather, prunes, savory herbs, licorice, and Asian five spice. Still has good acidity and tannins with a nice long finish. Good to go right now and over the next couple of years. (821 views) | | | Tasted by SIMONFELL on 3/24/2024 & rated 92 points: Amber hues, savoury dried herb, rustic notes, lovely balance and soft tannins . Has aged beautifully with alcohol level not showing on finish. (855 views) | | | Tasted by wine4ever on 3/3/2024 & rated 95 points: Bold, beautiful and mature CDP. Quite different than our 1st bottle in 2020. Tannins are fully resolved, many secondary characteristics have emerged, and bricking on the edges. Very complex. A smokey, fruity, licorice bouquet. Plum, dark berries, leather, spice, pencil shavings, camphor, herb and meat juices on the super smooth palate. Long finish. Just a touch of heat on the backend, but not distracting. We have one more destined for consumption no later than 2027. 94-95 pts (1021 views) | | | Tasted by Portland Seth on 2/11/2024 & rated 93 points: Leather, xmas spices, dried plum, cedar, earth. Nose is fantastic, palate is slightly over ripe but balanced by earthy flavors. Really nice. (1073 views) | | | Tasted by AllRed on 1/27/2024 & rated 90 points: 4th Saturday Brown Bagger (J&S’s): Double blind. Opens with aromas of dark fruit with hints of soy and spice underneath. Raspberry and herb elements on the palate. Medium bodied. Guessed grenache, but I thought this could have been a companion wine to the Muga in the previous flight.
A surprise to see an '07 CndP unveiled, as I got none of the overly ripe, raisined qualities I have come to expect from this vintage. (MM) (1289 views) | | | Tasted by Pak64 on 12/25/2023 & rated 93 points: Wonderful Christmas dinner wine! After some cork issues(need a new humidifier) poured a beautiful deep ruby red with definite bricking on rim. Nose of ripe fruit with some pepper. Luxurious mouth feel but not a big beginning, very well integrated tannins, full ripe fruit in the middle, long finish where pepper comes to the fore. Drink soon, this wine is in its prime! (1261 views) | | | Tasted by Musigny1955 on 12/10/2023 & rated 94 points: (Shocked to find another bottle in back of cellar, bought on release) Elite wine, bought for pedestrian money on release. Tannins are fully resolved, palate is complex and just draws you in. Red and black fruits, bricked earthy sense on palate, length forever. Superb. Why one buys wine to cellar. Balanced, none of the overly-alcoholic predictions doom sayers predicted for the 2007s. Just buy the right producers! (See 2021 note). Will have with lamb stew tonight. (1454 views) | | | Tasted by spendergast on 10/15/2023 & rated 95 points: This wine continues to drink well and has improved a bit from my lat tasting over a year ago. Notes of cherry, black raspberry, roasted meat, and spice. Tannins are well integrated, long satisfying finish. Paired with herb marinated grilled veal chops. (1909 views) | | | Tasted by BernieMSY on 10/14/2023 & rated 95 points: Beautiful shimmering ruby color; blackberry/boysenberry nose.
Some overripe notes upon opening, but an hour later they have given way to a rich, dense flavor profile. Soft tannins at this point, with lots of black fruit, roast meat and garrigue. The finish goes on for a long, long time. Drink ‘em if you got ‘em. (1724 views) | | | Tasted by OttawaB on 9/28/2023 & rated 94 points: Stunning by the second day. Really filled out and off odours blew away. Full bodied wine with balanced structure. Not a heavy mouthfeel though. Dark berries, dried berry fruits. Almost a mulled feel. Herbal and spice element on mid palate to finish. Long finish. Earthy flavours and tobacco, cedar elements. Really enjoyable. You can taste and feel the fullness of this being a CdP. (1729 views) | | | Tasted by prism on 8/19/2023 & rated 93 points: Decanted for three hours. Very nicely matured, the flavors smoothly integrated into a characteristically voluptuous C9P. Drinking perfectly now. (1725 views) | | | Tasted by skurtz on 8/18/2023 & rated 93 points: Decanted for 1-2h, consistent with my previous notes. Perfumy nose of leather, tobacco, and cedar. On the palate, vibrant sweet red fruit, earthy sous bois, with acidity in the finish. Lots going on in this wine, great complexity! Smooth and easy to drink. (1799 views) | | | Tasted by Vancouver on 8/6/2023 & rated 94 points: Full bodied with lots of black fruits, blueberry liqueur, lavender , garrigue and even some Northern Rhone pepper notes.
Plenty of structure to suggest this will last another 5 plus years.
An exceptional bottle! (1689 views) | | | Tasted by JohnSh on 7/31/2023 & rated 82 points: My first 2007 VD - I've been wondering about this wine given the comments of some people about the 2007 vintage in CDP. Most comments are very positive in CT, while other reviews are much less positive about the 2007 vintage in general and the 2007 VD specifically. I had hoped VD had dealt well with the very warm 2007 vintage. Over two nights, the good news there was no heat, but the fruit was very overripe, going into prune territory. Medium bodied, low acid, dead fruit, and very dull/limpid for a VD. I have one more bottle, but I am not looking forward to it, as I suspect this can not and will not improve. I'm afraid I am a hater rather than a lover of this vintage of Vieux Donjon (C-). (1758 views) | | | Tasted by eschaefer on 7/29/2023 & rated 93 points: A nice surprise with a prime NY strip. Tinged brick on the edge but very youthful. Medium bodied with nice acid backbone. Savory with black pepper and balsamic to go with juicy blackberry fruit and a hint of strawberry. Tannins were well integrated and fine. Lengthy finish with good grip. I haven’t had much CDP in the last few years but this was a treat. Highly recommended. (1610 views) | | | Tasted by Stumptown Steve on 7/22/2023 & rated 92 points: This is drinking beautifully right now, all the elements integrated. Couldn't identify particular flavors, other than it was just a nice old school Chateauneuf (1490 views) | | | Tasted by Grinner on 7/18/2023 & rated 94 points: Brief decant and no formal notes. Just a glorious old school wine with more savory notes than fruity. Now-2025. I laugh at my last note... (1552 views) | | | Tasted by grizzlywine on 7/16/2023 & rated 95 points: Whoa, warm winter spices, red and black fruit, extinguished wood fire, and autumn decay. Medium acidity, tannins mature and soft. Medjool dates, leather, blackberry compote, the palate is intriguing and tough to pin down as it evolves. My first from this producer, and I’m massively impressed. Elite qpr at $50. (1635 views) | | | Tasted by beatles on 7/6/2023 & rated 94 points: Amazing tonight. Drinking a point, very elegant, notes of sous bois, sweet fruit, dark spice, rounded and sexy. This will certainly go on, but in my book, this is peaking.
#Kandestederne#Tourmalet (2011 views) | | | Tasted by KristianT on 6/16/2023 & rated 93 points: Drinking Vieux Donjon is visiting an old friend - one of my favourites. Classic Chateauneuf that really needs time to shine. The 2007 is in a great place now - 15 years old but still shows a very nice level of freshness combined with a mature elegance. Healthy colour. Notes of garrigue, hints of smoke, leather and dark fruits. Well-balanced and full-bodied with a long and lingering aftertaste. (93 points) (1645 views) | | | Tasted by prism on 4/15/2023 & rated 93 points: Slow-O'd for two hours; decanted for another two. Textbook: not overripe; tannins well integrated. Excellent. (1963 views) | | | Tasted by canan on 4/1/2023 & rated 93 points: Refined and refreshing raspberry fruits combined with funk and refined tannins. Also showing some baking/christmas spices and a solid body.
A classic CdP wine that feels quite robust due to the alcohol but everything has a nice balance to it. Very nice wine. (2097 views) | | | Tasted by ogres3 on 3/19/2023 & rated 92 points: Drinking well, fairly bold fruit. (2080 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| By Jeb Dunnuck
JebDunnuck.com, Issue #12 (6/23/2012)
(Le Vieux Donjon Châteauneuf-du-Pape) Login and sign up and see review text. | By Jeb Dunnuck
JebDunnuck.com, Issue #9 (9/25/2011)
(Le Vieux Donjon Châteauneuf-du-Pape) Login and sign up and see review text. | By Jeb Dunnuck
JebDunnuck.com, A focus on Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Issue #5 (8/31/2010)
(Le Vieux Donjon Châteauneuf-du-Pape) Login and sign up and see review text. | By John Szabo, MS
WineAlign (11/18/2009)
(Le Vieux Donjon Châteauneuf Du Pape, Ac red) Subscribe to see review text. | By David Lawrason
WineAlign (10/21/2009)
(Le Vieux Donjon Châteauneuf Du Pape, Ac red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Jeb Dunnuck
JebDunnuck.com, Current releases from the South of France, Issue #1 (8/1/2009)
(Le Vieux Donjon Châteauneuf-du-Pape) Login and sign up and see review text. | By Josh Raynolds
Vinous, January/February 2009, IWC Issue #142
(Le Vieux Donjon Chateauneuf du Pape) Subscribe to see review text. |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of JebDunnuck.com and WineAlign and Vinous. (manage subscription channels) |
| Le Vieux Donjon Producer website - Read more about Le Vieux Donjon
U.S. Importer (Addt'l Info)
http://www.ultimatewineshop.com 9/2012
Le Vieux Donjon, as it exists today, was created in 1979 with the marriage of Lucien and Marie Jose Michel. Both Lucien and Marie Jose's parents owned vineyards in the region, and those holdings were combined to form Le Vieux Donjon. The domaine covers fourteen hectares of vineyards (all farmed organically), thirteen planted to red grapes and one planted to white. The Michel's holdings are primarily in the North and Northwest of the appellation, but they also have small plots in the Southwest and East. Their most important parcel is Pialons, and the grapes from the 2008 come from that parcel as well as those in Cabrieres, Bois de Boursan, Les Marines and Le Mourre de Gaude. The soils are mainly limestone and clay, and are studded with the famed galets roule, the round, rust-colored stones which were left behind after the retreat of the Alpine glaciers which once covered the region. Now that Lucien Michel has inched his way into retirement, his young daughter, Claire, who did an apprenticeship at Napa's Harlan Estate, is in full control of the winemaking (another example of a woman who has taken charge of a famous estate). Remington Norman in Rhone Renaissance says of Donjon, "The style of the wines is unashamedly, 'traditionelle' – vins de garde with plenty of backbone and muscle to them. However, these are no clumsy blockbusters, but wines with real definition and elegance underneath powerful exteriors…These are well-constituted wines with great depth and extract, which manage to retain finesse." The secret to the success of Le Vieux Donjon is really no secret at all. They have tremendously old vines (many in excess of 80 years of age) and they are experts at picking only once the grapes have achieved optimum ripeness.Red Rhone Blend Read about the different grapes used to produce red and white Rhone wines
On CellarTracker, Red Rhone Blend is the term for a wine consisting of two or more of the traditional 13 Southern Rhone grape varieties. Typically it's the Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre or Cinsault grapes, but can also contain the Muscardin, Counoise, Clairette, Bourboulenc, Picpoul, Roussanne, Terret Noir, Picardan or Vaccarese grapes.
A 'food' wine. Lacking pretension and intended for local consumption with local cuisine. Lacks the 'high' notes on a Bordeaux, more earthy and sharper so often a better partner to meat dishes with a sauce. France Vins de France (Office National Interprofessionnel des Vins ) | Pages Vins, Directory of French Winegrowers | French Wine (Wikipedia)
Wine Scholar Guild vintage ratings
2018 vintage: "marked by a wet spring, a superb summer and a good harvest"
2019 vintage reports
2021: "From a general standpoint, whether for white, rosé or red wines, 2021 is a year marked by quality in the Rhône Valley Vineyards. Structured, elegant, fresh and fruity will be the main keywords for this new vintage."
2022 harvest: idealwine.info | wine-searcher.comRhône Guide to the wines, wineries and appellations in the Rhone Valley The Rhône Valley/Le Vins de la Vallée du Rhône (Comité Interprofession des vins AOC Côtes et vallée du Rhône)
### Wine Scholar Guild's Rhône valley vintage charts & ratings ###Southern Rhône Guide to the wines, wineries and appellations in the Southern Rhone Valley
Châteauneuf-du-Pape Châteauneuf-du-Pape Appellation - Read more about Chateauneuf du Pape
Another site on this appellation
Vineyards on weinlagen-info
"As I have written many times in the past, the sweet spot for drinking Châteauneuf du Papes is usually the first 5-6 years after the vintage. Then they seem to go through an adolescent, awkward, and sometimes dormant stage, only to re-emerge around year 10-12, where the majority of wines are often fully mature. The best of them will continue to hold on to life (but rarely improving) beyond 15-20 years. It is only the exceptional Châteauneuf du Papes that will evolve for 20-25+ years, and those are indeed a rarity. However, things may be improving dramatically in terms of the longevity of Châteauneuf du Pape, although Grenache-dominated wines, the vast majority of wines produced in the appellation, are wines that do not have the polyphenol (extract and tannin) content of top Cabernet Sauvignons, Merlots, or Syrah-based wines. Nevertheless, the younger generation in Châteauneuf du Pape has taken seriously the farming in the vineyards. There are more organic and biodynamically run vineyards here than in any other appellation of France. The yields, which were already low, are even lower today (20-35 hectoliters per hectare), and of course, the proliferation of top luxury and/or old-vine cuvées gives a significant boost to the number of wines that will evolve past 25 or 30 years. The advantage of these wines is their broad window of drinkability." - Robert Parker
Vintage Chart 1978 to Today
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