Le Vieux Donjon Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhône Blend 2016

$75

95 Points Parker - Top 10 of 2018                  Wine Spectator's #8 Wine of 2018! Limited. 95 Points Wine Spectator: "Few estates epitomize Châteauneuf-du-Pape like Le Vieux Donjon. Family-owned, it is now run by the sister-and-brother team of Claire and François Michel, who succeeded their father, the legendary Lucien Michel. In 2012, a vineyard purchased on sandy soils bolstered the domaine’s holdings to 99 acres while providing access to all four terroirs in the appellation (galets, clay, limestone and sand). The 2016 is a 75-10-10-5 percent blend of Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Cinsault, respectively, vinified traditionally, with one exception—in this vintage, a small portion was aged in cement vats (instead of entirely in foudres) to emphasize the freshness of the fruit. With its telltale juniper note and vibrant minerality, this is one of the most ageworthy and widely available bottlings from this storied appellation.

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Ratings on Delectable

Matt Delectable Pro

Absolutely gorgeous! Deeply concentrated with alluring depth, almost bombastic but still maintains liveliness and pure drinkability. They nailed whole cluster and level of extraction. Beautiful texture, savory and lifted fruit components, almost semi-carbonic in character. Pure and ultra ripe black plum, logan berry, so much garrigue from scrubby herbs to lavender and candied olive, menthol, black peppercorn, vibrant Asian spices, leather, violets, citrus peel.

Absolutely gorgeous! Deeply concentrated with alluring depth, almost bombastic but still maintains liveliness and pure drinkability. They nailed whole cluster and level of extraction. Beautiful texture, savory and lifted fruit components, almost semi-carbonic in character. Pure and ultra ripe black plum, logan berry, so much garrigue from scrubby herbs to lavender and candied olive, menthol, black peppercorn, vibrant Asian spices, leather, violets, citrus peel.

9.5

Eric Urbani Delectable Pro

Lighter on the feet

Lighter on the feet

9.1

Nicolas Greinacher

Medium ruby with pronouned aromas of violets, fresh, slightly cooked strawberry, raspberry, blackberry, red plum, cedar wood, christmas cake, and earth. On the palate, ripe and slightly chalky tannins along with high fruit concentration paint a full bodied wine with a long, lingering finish. I can easily imagine my score increasing as it matures, gaining even more finesse and complexity. The 2016 Vieux Donjon is a head turner. Drink from 2026 to 2041

Medium ruby with pronouned aromas of violets, fresh, slightly cooked strawberry, raspberry, blackberry, red plum, cedar wood, christmas cake, and earth. On the palate, ripe and slightly chalky tannins along with high fruit concentration paint a full bodied wine with a long, lingering finish. I can easily imagine my score increasing as it matures, gaining even more finesse and complexity. The 2016 Vieux Donjon is a head turner. Drink from 2026 to 2041

9.4

Benoit Duhamel

C’est du beau Chateauneuf-du-pape en jeunesse. C’est épicé, fruité, cerise et framboise avec des notes de violette, de prune et de garrigue. C’est assez puissant et doté d’une belle longueur !

C’est du beau Chateauneuf-du-pape en jeunesse. C’est épicé, fruité, cerise et framboise avec des notes de violette, de prune et de garrigue. C’est assez puissant et doté d’une belle longueur !

9.3

Andrew Caceres

Very nice Rhone GSM blend. Nice fruits and lingering finish.

Very nice Rhone GSM blend. Nice fruits and lingering finish.

9.0

Mike Evans

Lots of pure red fruit and a little spice, pleasant but lacking more at the moment.

Lots of pure red fruit and a little spice, pleasant but lacking more at the moment.

8.9

Stanley Barrios Delectable Pro

What year? I have some 00 and 01 I need to start pricing. Maybe I try one of the half bottles first

What year? I have some 00 and 01 I need to start pricing. Maybe I try one of the half bottles first

9.6

WARNING: DRINKING DISTILLED SPIRITS, BEER, COOLERS, WINE AND OTHER ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES MAY INCREASE CANCER RISK, AND, DURING PREGNANCY, CAN CAUSE BIRTH DEFECTS.