2004 Le Vieux Donjon Châteauneuf-du-Pape, France, Rhone, Wine Review

One of the longer living CdP's. However, 2004 is an ok, not great vintage at this time. The result? At age 15 this is at peak. It should be here for at least five and likely ten more years. Medium ruby in color. The nose has cherries, slight floral notes, garrique and slight earthy funk. On the palate, this has nice depth. Layers of cherry liqueur unwind in the glass over a funky earthiness. Light dry tannins especially on the finish. This works well with stews and roast. Everything you want in a traditional CdP.

Grade:

A-

Score:

Vintage:

2004

Current Price:

$45.00USD

Rhone Valley & Spanish Rhone-style Wines Tasted at the 2008 Hospice du Rhone Events

The Rhone Report: About Rhone and Rhone-Style Wines and Winemakers is part of an ongoing series. Last month we reported on American Rhone-style wines we tasted at the 16th annual Hospice du Rhone events in Paso Robles, California from May 1 to 3, 2008. We noted that this event was an opportunity to consider Rhone-style wines from a fresh perspective because, unlike most tasting opportunities, these events included Rhone-style wines from the Rhone Valley itself (51 wineries), elsewhere in France (4 wineries) as well as from Spain (4 wineries), Australia (17 wineries), South Africa (6 wineries), Chile (2 wineries), Argentina (1 winery) and the United States. While this was a California-dominated event, and while many of the Rhone Valley’s best producers weren’t represented, there was still sufficient European and other entries to make for interesting comparisons and contrasts.

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2001 Le Vieux Donjon Châteauneuf-du-Pape, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage:

2001

Score:

Grade:

Ruby in color, purple at the core. The nose is slightly earthy with cherries, garrique and charred wood. On the palate, this has nice cherry fruit with layers of forest floor and damp earth. Nice acidity. Seems to be at peak, depending how you like your wines. Nice finish. This will work great with roasts. It probably needs to be drunk in the next five years or so.

2016 Le Vieux Donjon Châteauneuf-du-Pape, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage:

2016

Score:

Grade:

A+

Current Price:

$65.00USD

What a great showing for this wine. Yes, it is still a bit young, but really one of the best showings from this house I have seen. Time to get a few more bottles. It is 75% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre, and 5% Cinsault. Purple in color, ruby at the core. The nose is great with black raspberries, baking spices, garrique and slight lavender. Full bodied. Luxurious texture. Rich and full bodied. Medium tannins. Lots of concentrated black raspberry fruit over a bed of char and gravel. Long finish. Delicious. One of those wine when each sip makes one want another. It drinks g

2016 Le Vieux Donjon Châteauneuf-du-Pape, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage:

2016

Score:

Grade:

Current Price:

$65.00USD

2016 is a stellar year in Chateauneuf du Pape and the southern Rhone Valley. While this wine has years left in it, it was wonderful to drink now. Purple in color, ruby at the rim. The nose is great. Clean with black cherries, dust, spice and slight lavender notes. On the palate, this has a wonderful texture. Juicy black cherry fruit. An underlying minerality. Lots of depth. Good finish. It is a big wine at the moment, but will no doubt mellow and gain in complexity as it loses some of that youthful fruit. This easily has a decade and more left to it, but it really is worth drinki

2003 Le Vieux Donjon Châteauneuf-du-Pape, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage:

2003

Score:

Grade:

Current Price:

$58.00USD

Nice to revisit this wine at age 18. 2003 was a very hot vintage that was problematic for many winemakers. This one is holding up just fine. It is 80% Grenache, 10% Syrah and the rest Cinsault and Mourvedre. This is fully mature but only showing a bit of age. Light purple in color but still opaque and mostly bright. The nose has cherries, black cherries, garrigue and dried tobacco. Full bodied. On the palate, nice cherry and black cherry fruit with underlying tobacco and some char. Good complexity. Long finish. This will work better with hearty food; beef stew would work well. D

2004 Le Vieux Donjon Châteauneuf-du-Pape, France, Rhone, Wine Review

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Rhone Valley & Spanish Rhone-style Wines Tasted at the 2008 Hospice du Rhone Events

2001 Le Vieux Donjon Châteauneuf-du-Pape, France, Rhone, Wine Review

2016 Le Vieux Donjon Châteauneuf-du-Pape, France, Rhone, Wine Review

2016 Le Vieux Donjon Châteauneuf-du-Pape, France, Rhone, Wine Review

2003 Le Vieux Donjon Châteauneuf-du-Pape, France, Rhone, Wine Review