Lucien Michel
Le Vieux Donjon Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend
Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Southern Rhône, Rhône, France
Perhaps the best young Châteauneuf-du-Pape that I’ve ever tasted, this extraordinary wine has power, but also elegance; purity, but also enormity; sweetness, but also umami. The aromas are classic for the appellation, with sweet blue fruit, Turkish delight, soy, coffee, heady garrigue and smoked bacon. But it’s the palate that steals the show, gobsmackingly gorgeous, with enormous presence and a near-perfect harmony between intense, dark, sweet fruit from the century-old Grenache, and bitter coffee, orange peel and a thousand other flavours that carry through to the finish. Super strong tannins at the moment; this wine will age superbly. The finish is incredibly long. They only make one cuvée each of red and white at Vieux Donjon - no high end bottling - and it shows in the incredible quality of this wine, which is up there with the very best.
Perhaps the best young Châteauneuf-du-Pape that I’ve ever tasted, this extraordinary wine has power, but also elegance; purity, but also enormity; sweetness, but also umami. The aromas are classic for the appellation, with sweet blue fruit, Turkish delight, soy, coffee, heady garrigue and smoked bacon. But it’s the palate that steals the show, gobsmackingly gorgeous, with enormous presence and a near-perfect harmony between intense, dark, sweet fruit from the century-old Grenache, and bitter coffee, orange peel and a thousand other flavours that carry through to the finish. Super strong tannins at the moment; this wine will age superbly. The finish is incredibly long. They only make one cuvée each of red and white at Vieux Donjon - no high end bottling - and it shows in the incredible quality of this wine, which is up there with the very best.
Sep 24th, 2023
A blend of mostly Grenache with Mourvèdre, Syrah and Cinsault. Medium Ruby with aromas of ripe black fruits and earthy pepper spice. On the palate complex flavors of cherry and blackberry, with oak, leather, cacao and earthy spice. Full body, well balanced, fine tannins, long finish, perfect now but will last another decade. Outstanding.
A blend of mostly Grenache with Mourvèdre, Syrah and Cinsault. Medium Ruby with aromas of ripe black fruits and earthy pepper spice. On the palate complex flavors of cherry and blackberry, with oak, leather, cacao and earthy spice. Full body, well balanced, fine tannins, long finish, perfect now but will last another decade. Outstanding.
Dec 13th, 2021This wine is drinking beautifully.... Amazing and complex for what I remember was a really good value. Rustic with great sweet fruit, great acidity and an amazing almost Northern Rhone nose ...
This wine is drinking beautifully.... Amazing and complex for what I remember was a really good value. Rustic with great sweet fruit, great acidity and an amazing almost Northern Rhone nose ...
1 person found it helpfulOct 28th, 2016
Bright reddish violet color. Translucent. Nose of herbs de Provence, sweet black cherries, some wood. Rich and round in the mouth. Some heat. Decent finish.
Bright reddish violet color. Translucent. Nose of herbs de Provence, sweet black cherries, some wood. Rich and round in the mouth. Some heat. Decent finish.
May 19th, 2017Le Vieux Donjon was created in 1979 with the marriage of Lucien and Marie José Michel. Both Lucien and Marie José's parents owned vineyards in the region, and those holding were combined to form Le Vieux Donjon. Had this tucked away in the cellar, deep Ruby with aromas of sweet black fruits and spice. Flavors of cherry and blackberry, complex notes if oak and pepper spice. Full body, well balanced with lingering finish, perfect now. Outstanding.
Le Vieux Donjon was created in 1979 with the marriage of Lucien and Marie José Michel. Both Lucien and Marie José's parents owned vineyards in the region, and those holding were combined to form Le Vieux Donjon. Had this tucked away in the cellar, deep Ruby with aromas of sweet black fruits and spice. Flavors of cherry and blackberry, complex notes if oak and pepper spice. Full body, well balanced with lingering finish, perfect now. Outstanding.
Feb 23rd, 2017
La música del vi
La música del vi
Jul 3rd, 2016Beautiful structure. Moving it around my tongue, there is not a single flavor bit in harmony. Terrific elegance. Grape jelly, spice, chalk, gravel, striking minerality and length.
Beautiful structure. Moving it around my tongue, there is not a single flavor bit in harmony. Terrific elegance. Grape jelly, spice, chalk, gravel, striking minerality and length.
Apr 25th, 2016
2007, ripe year, lovely w rich meats at Botanical Gqrdens Reataurant Adelaide
2007, ripe year, lovely w rich meats at Botanical Gqrdens Reataurant Adelaide
Jan 29th, 2016
'12. This vintage should not be missed. Still love the single cuvée bottling here. Spice, earth, leather and berries layer into a longer finish than the weight suggests. Kept bringing me back for another glass.
'12. This vintage should not be missed. Still love the single cuvée bottling here. Spice, earth, leather and berries layer into a longer finish than the weight suggests. Kept bringing me back for another glass.
May 10th, 2015