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Le Vieux Donjon

16 notes Sort by: Vintage - Name - Rating

2020
Le Vieux Donjon  (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
94
Plums, flowers, cherries, spice and kirsch shine in the nose and it gets even better as you dig in to all the layers of supple-textured, creamy, ripe, plus, ripe, sweet, pure fruits on the palate and in the finish. The wine blends mostly old vine Grenache with Mourvedre, Syrah and Cinsault. Drink from 2023-2036.

Plums, flowers, cherries, spice and kirsch shine in the nose and it gets even better as you dig in to all the layers of supple-textured, creamy, ripe, plus, ripe, sweet, pure fruits on the palate and in the finish. The wine blends mostly old vine Grenache with Mourvedre, Syrah and Cinsault. Drink from 2023-2036.

3,360 Views   Tasted
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2019
Le Vieux Donjon  (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
95
Dark, meaty red berries, black pepper, wet earth and garrigue take no effort to find. Rich, lush, fresh and sweet red fruits glide over your palate with a long, hit of dark red cherries and spice with more of that black pepper creates the finish. Give it a few years in the cellar and it promises to be even better. The wine was made from a blend of usually about 75% Grenache, with Mourvedre, Syrah and Cinsault. Drink from 2025 - 2035

Dark, meaty red berries, black pepper, wet earth and garrigue take no effort to find. Rich, lush, fresh and sweet red fruits glide over your palate with a long, hit of dark red cherries and spice with more of that black pepper creates the finish. Give it a few years in the cellar and it promises to be even better. The wine was made from a blend of usually about 75% Grenache, with Mourvedre, Syrah and Cinsault. Drink from 2025 - 2035

6,955 Views   Tasted
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2016
Le Vieux Donjon  (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
95
Garrigue, thyme and oceanic notes create the nose, before you begin getting into the ripe, peppery, red fruits. On the palate the wine is rich, lush, long and sings with a real depth of flavor that holds on through the long finish. Give it a few years in the cellar and it promises to be even better. The wine was made from a blend of 75% Grenache, 10% Mourvedre, 10% Syrah and 5% Cinsault.

Garrigue, thyme and oceanic notes create the nose, before you begin getting into the ripe, peppery, red fruits. On the palate the wine is rich, lush, long and sings with a real depth of flavor that holds on through the long finish. Give it a few years in the cellar and it promises to be even better. The wine was made from a blend of 75% Grenache, 10% Mourvedre, 10% Syrah and 5% Cinsault.

7,639 Views   Tasted
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2015
Le Vieux Donjon  (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
92
Forward, medium bodied, earthy, cherry filled wine with kirsch, flowers and raspberry notes. Open, soft and if you like young Grenache, drinkable today, else give it 3-5 years.

Forward, medium bodied, earthy, cherry filled wine with kirsch, flowers and raspberry notes. Open, soft and if you like young Grenache, drinkable today, else give it 3-5 years.

7,188 Views   Tasted
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2012
Le Vieux Donjon  (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
92
Roses, kirsch and spice create the nose. The wine is fresh, supple and invigorating with its peppery, kirsch and spicy blackberry essence. The wine was made from a blend of 75% Grenache, 10% Mourvedre, 10% Syrah and 5% Cinsault.

Roses, kirsch and spice create the nose. The wine is fresh, supple and invigorating with its peppery, kirsch and spicy blackberry essence. The wine was made from a blend of 75% Grenache, 10% Mourvedre, 10% Syrah and 5% Cinsault.

4,337 Views   Tasted
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2010
Le Vieux Donjon  (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
93
Blackberry, licorice, truffle and black raspberry scents emerge with little effort. In the mouth, the wine is lush, round and concentrated. With tannins and structure to age, give it a few years before popping a bottle.

Blackberry, licorice, truffle and black raspberry scents emerge with little effort. In the mouth, the wine is lush, round and concentrated. With tannins and structure to age, give it a few years before popping a bottle.

9,364 Views   Tasted
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Blackberry, licorice, truffle and black raspberry scents emerge with little effort. In the mouth, the wine is lush, round and concentrated. With tannins and structure to age, give it a few years before popping a bottle.

Blackberry, licorice, truffle and black raspberry scents emerge with little effort. In the mouth, the wine is lush, round and concentrated. With tannins and structure to age, give it a few years before popping a bottle.

8,222 Views   Tasted
2009
Le Vieux Donjon  (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
92
Surprisingly forward and open, as the wine is often late in offering pleasure, the combination of kirsch, black raspberry, pepper and garrigue scents paired with luscious, ripe, sweet, peppery, fruits made this quite nice indeed.

Surprisingly forward and open, as the wine is often late in offering pleasure, the combination of kirsch, black raspberry, pepper and garrigue scents paired with luscious, ripe, sweet, peppery, fruits made this quite nice indeed.

5,413 Views   Tasted
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2007
Le Vieux Donjon  (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
93
Much better than my previous bottle from the same case, this was rockin'! With loads of sweet, ripe, juicy, peppery, red berries, the wine offers richness on the palate and a peppery, garrigue, kirsch and black raspberry complexity on the nose. Splash decanted, this was a treat the moment it made its way from my glass to my palate.

Much better than my previous bottle from the same case, this was rockin'! With loads of sweet, ripe, juicy, peppery, red berries, the wine offers richness on the palate and a peppery, garrigue, kirsch and black raspberry complexity on the nose. Splash decanted, this was a treat the moment it made its way from my glass to my palate.

4,940 Views   Tasted
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This seems to have changed since the last time, I recall tasting it. There is a pronounced fig, and jam note in the otherwise, delightful perfume. But those over ripe notes take away from the truffle, earth, garrigue, wet earth and hard to find, dark cherry fruits. Fat, round and not exactly low in acid, but lacking the freshness I want. If you are sitting on any my instincts is to finish them sooner than later.

This seems to have changed since the last time, I recall tasting it. There is a pronounced fig, and jam note in the otherwise, delightful perfume. But those over ripe notes take away from the truffle, earth, garrigue, wet earth and hard to find, dark cherry fruits. Fat, round and not exactly low in acid, but lacking the freshness I want. If you are sitting on any my instincts is to finish them sooner than later.

5,487 Views   Tasted
Enticing aromas of earth, black pepper, plums, kirsch and fresh herbs get you going. The wine is rich, soft, sweet, lusty and open for business.

Enticing aromas of earth, black pepper, plums, kirsch and fresh herbs get you going. The wine is rich, soft, sweet, lusty and open for business.

7,478 Views   Tasted
Deep in color, the wine required coaxing to bring out its licorice, pepper, garrigue, cherry and black raspberry scents. Rich, fat and concentrated, this rich Chateauneuf du Pape ends with a long, spicy, kirsch filled finish.

Deep in color, the wine required coaxing to bring out its licorice, pepper, garrigue, cherry and black raspberry scents. Rich, fat and concentrated, this rich Chateauneuf du Pape ends with a long, spicy, kirsch filled finish.

11,694 Views   Tasted
2006
Le Vieux Donjon  (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
92
Medium bodied, traditionally styled Chateauneuf du Pape showing kirsch, earth and spice characteristics. This is already starting to show well.

Medium bodied, traditionally styled Chateauneuf du Pape showing kirsch, earth and spice characteristics. This is already starting to show well.

5,714 Views   Tasted
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2005
Le Vieux Donjon  (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
93
Powerful, fresh, long, ripe, structured and tannic, this is now out of its shell and displays its wealth of ripe red fruit, black pepper, herbs and spice. Good now, this could even be better with more age.

Powerful, fresh, long, ripe, structured and tannic, this is now out of its shell and displays its wealth of ripe red fruit, black pepper, herbs and spice. Good now, this could even be better with more age.

4,168 Views   Tasted
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2004
Le Vieux Donjon  (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
91
Ready to go, medium bodied, with a fresh, kirsch, spice and garrigue nose, there is a lot of freshness in the sweet, ripe, spicy, peppery, red berry finish.

Ready to go, medium bodied, with a fresh, kirsch, spice and garrigue nose, there is a lot of freshness in the sweet, ripe, spicy, peppery, red berry finish.

3,580 Views   Tasted
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2001
Le Vieux Donjon  (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
95
Wild strawberry, mint, licorice, kirsch and peppery chocolate on the nose focuses you on what comes next. Layers of sweet, spicy, creamy cherries and spice which roll from the glass in layers. This is at perfect maturity today. Pop, pour and enjoy. Drink from 2023-2028.

Wild strawberry, mint, licorice, kirsch and peppery chocolate on the nose focuses you on what comes next. Layers of sweet, spicy, creamy cherries and spice which roll from the glass in layers. This is at perfect maturity today. Pop, pour and enjoy. Drink from 2023-2028.

3,300 Views   Tasted
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If barnyard is not your thing, you came to the wrong place as this wine is loaded with barnyard stink. On top of that you find, garrigue, pepper, kirsch, lavender and wild strawberry notes. Full bodied, with a gentleness to the texture, there is an appealing rustic charm to the fresh, spicy, red fruits in the. At 15 years of age, this is in the sweet spot.

If barnyard is not your thing, you came to the wrong place as this wine is loaded with barnyard stink. On top of that you find, garrigue, pepper, kirsch, lavender and wild strawberry notes. Full bodied, with a gentleness to the texture, there is an appealing rustic charm to the fresh, spicy, red fruits in the. At 15 years of age, this is in the sweet spot.

3,615 Views   Tasted
Winner, winner, winner, chicken dinner here! The nose explodes with its earthy, barnyard, kirsch, tobacco and licorice personality. The wine is rich, full bodied, concentrated, lush and packed with sweet, juicy fruit. Drinking at perfection, if you have a bottle, pop a cork.

Winner, winner, winner, chicken dinner here! The nose explodes with its earthy, barnyard, kirsch, tobacco and licorice personality. The wine is rich, full bodied, concentrated, lush and packed with sweet, juicy fruit. Drinking at perfection, if you have a bottle, pop a cork.

3,578 Views   Tasted
Kirsch, garrigue, earth, jam, pepper and raspberry aromatics mesh well with the concentrated, deep, ripe flavors, supple textures and long, fresh, spicy, black cherry finish. This is drinking great today and it should remain at this level for at least another 5-10 years.

Kirsch, garrigue, earth, jam, pepper and raspberry aromatics mesh well with the concentrated, deep, ripe flavors, supple textures and long, fresh, spicy, black cherry finish. This is drinking great today and it should remain at this level for at least another 5-10 years.

5,753 Views   Tasted
2000
Le Vieux Donjon  (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
94
I love hitting wines in the sweet spot. Looking slightly older than its true age, the wine pops with kirsch, garrigue, spice box, earth, sea water, (but in a good, briney way) with a bit of licorice in the end of the bouquet. Luscious, fresh textures with a lingering, sweet, pure kirsch note in the finish. There is no reason to wait any longer to pop a cork on this beauty. Do not decant, this is really ready to go.

I love hitting wines in the sweet spot. Looking slightly older than its true age, the wine pops with kirsch, garrigue, spice box, earth, sea water, (but in a good, briney way) with a bit of licorice in the end of the bouquet. Luscious, fresh textures with a lingering, sweet, pure kirsch note in the finish. There is no reason to wait any longer to pop a cork on this beauty. Do not decant, this is really ready to go.

3,155 Views   Tasted
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Pepper, jammy black cherries, licorice and garrigue add to the aromatics. Soft, smooth and round in the mouth, the wine ends with spicy, sweet cherries. This is drinking in the perfect sweet spot, there is no reason to hold off popping a cork.

Pepper, jammy black cherries, licorice and garrigue add to the aromatics. Soft, smooth and round in the mouth, the wine ends with spicy, sweet cherries. This is drinking in the perfect sweet spot, there is no reason to hold off popping a cork.

3,721 Views   Tasted
Jammy blackberry, pepper, kirsch. Provencal herbs, lavender and earthy scents permeate the your senses. Full bodied, luscious, fresh, peppery black cherry liqueur flavors fill your mouth. This Chateauneuf du Pape is drinking perfectly. If you're looking for pleasure and a good time, this wine is up to the task.

Jammy blackberry, pepper, kirsch. Provencal herbs, lavender and earthy scents permeate the your senses. Full bodied, luscious, fresh, peppery black cherry liqueur flavors fill your mouth. This Chateauneuf du Pape is drinking perfectly. If you're looking for pleasure and a good time, this wine is up to the task.

6,140 Views   Tasted
1998
Le Vieux Donjon Cuvée Spéciale  (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
92
Probably past its best days, without hesitation, the wine offers dark cherries, fig, kirsch, spice and herb notes. Lush, round, filling, but lacking excitement and length, there is ample ripe, overripe, sweet, dark red fruits on the palate with a dose of fig in the endnote. If you own a bottle of this rare wine, you really need to pop the cork, as its best days were probably several years ago.

Probably past its best days, without hesitation, the wine offers dark cherries, fig, kirsch, spice and herb notes. Lush, round, filling, but lacking excitement and length, there is ample ripe, overripe, sweet, dark red fruits on the palate with a dose of fig in the endnote. If you own a bottle of this rare wine, you really need to pop the cork, as its best days were probably several years ago.

1,838 Views   Tasted
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1998
Le Vieux Donjon  (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
95
This beauty is drinking right where you want it to be. The ripe, sweet, fresh, peppery fruit is all there, with its earth, kirsch and garrigue profile. The wine is richly textured, full bodied, long, fresh and clean, leaving you with a trail of sweet, lush fruits in the end note. At close to 18 years of age, there is no reason to hold off any longer. The wine was produced from a blend of 75% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 10% Mourvedre and the remaining 5% comes from various, assorted varietals.

This beauty is drinking right where you want it to be. The ripe, sweet, fresh, peppery fruit is all there, with its earth, kirsch and garrigue profile. The wine is richly textured, full bodied, long, fresh and clean, leaving you with a trail of sweet, lush fruits in the end note. At close to 18 years of age, there is no reason to hold off any longer. The wine was produced from a blend of 75% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 10% Mourvedre and the remaining 5% comes from various, assorted varietals.

4,140 Views   Tasted
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1990
Le Vieux Donjon  (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
93
Dense, big, meaty wine. Pepper, jammy black fruit, and fresh herbs. Very concentrated with a chewy texture and lots of red and black peppery fruit.

Dense, big, meaty wine. Pepper, jammy black fruit, and fresh herbs. Very concentrated with a chewy texture and lots of red and black peppery fruit.

3,650 Views   Tasted
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