We will take any opportunity to put Vieux Donjon into the spotlight. It is simply one of THE great Chateauneuf du Pape estates and how it can be offered at this price is a mystery. This was not a difficult decision! For traditional Châteauneuf-du-Pape lovers, one could argue Le Vieux Donjon delivers the best bang for your buck. One of the very best value, traditionally-styled Châteauneuf du Papes is the brilliant Le Vieux Donjon. The Domaine is owned by Lucien and Marie José Michel, with the winemaking now firmly in the hands of their talented daughter, Claire Michel – who learnt the tricks of the trade at California’s Harlan Estate before taking over the family business. The particularity of Le Vieux Donjon is that they produce only one red and one white. In John Livingstone-Learmonth’s words “What joy! Just one wine, no special nonsense Cuvées.” A third of their Grenache vines are over 100 years old, and having vineyards in different parts of Châteauneuf (Le Pied Long, Le Mourre de Gaud, Champigne and Cabrieres) brings extra complexity to the wines. Some of their vines are even planted on sandy soil not too far from Château Rayas. The estate is organically farmed and they use partially destemmed fruit, this is a key to bring fragrance and rusticity albeit in a polished way. The wine is made in a voluptuous, traditional, yet beautifully concentrated style with the potential to age for 15 or more years, particularly in the top vintages; we have tasted mature examples which have retained beautiful shape, fruit and structure. You could argue its finesse and elegance make Le Vieux Donjon one of the most Burgundian wines of the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation.
