Wine Advisor
Le Vieux Donjon, Chateauneuf Du Pape 2006
Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Jeb Dunnuck
The 2006 Chateauneuf du Pape is forward and ready to go, with plenty of kirsch, blackberry, garrigue and cured meat aromas and flavors all emerging from the glass. Full-bodied and nicely concentrated, it’s a classic, elegant and complex red that can be enjoyed anytime over the coming decade or longer. As is common with a lot of 2006s, it has a traditional feel, yet offers solid fruit and texture. Another bastillion of traditional Chateauneuf du Pape, Vieux Donjon is owned by Lucien and Marie Jose Michel, with the winemaking now firmly in the hands of their talented daughter, Claire Michel. They produce a single red and white Chateauneuf du Pape, with the red always a rough blend of 75% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 10% Mourvedre and the balance a mix of other permitted varieties. They started partial destemming in 1993, pulling out the green stems and keeping the more lignified stems. Aging occurs all in concrete tanks and older foudre. This was a fabulous tasting with both Claire and her brother Francois, and as I hope the notes show, the wines have classic Chateauneuf du Pape character and broad drink windows. Importer: Alain Junguenet, Wines of France, Mountainside, NJ; tel. (908) 654-6173
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
The 2006 Chateauneuf du Pape reveals the vintage’s peppery, earthy spiciness along with notes of forest floor, root vegetables, black cherries, and meat. This rich, medium to full-bodied effort possesses moderately soft tannin as well as good body, depth, and richness. It is a strong effort that should age nicely for 15+ years. Importer: Alain Junguenet, Wines of France, Mountainside, NJ; tel. (908) 654-6173
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Vieux Donjon’s 2006 Chateauneuf du Pape is a powerful, seriously-endowed effort for the vintage, displaying more structure and muscle than most wines in this forward, fruit-friendly year. Classic Provencal characteristics of garrigue, licorice, lavender, pepper, and kirsch soar from the glass of this dark ruby/purple-tinged offering. In the mouth, it is masculine, tannic, medium to full-bodied, and powerfully built. Potentially one of the longest lived wines of the vintage, it will require 4-5 years of bottle age, and should evolve for two decades. An estate for connoisseurs with cold cellars, these traditionally made Chateauneuf du Papes rarely strut their stuff until they have been in the bottle for 5-7 years. Moreover, this is one of the few estates that has resisted the current fashion for producing old vine cuvees. Importer: Alain Junguenet, Wines of France, Mountainside, NJ; tel. (908) 654-6173
Reviewed by: Josh Raynolds
Deep ruby. Smoky cherry and blackcurrant aromas convey a wild, gamey quality, along with suave floral and mineral lift; smells like a northern Rhone wine. Deep dark fruit liqueur and olive flavors are sharpened by zesty minerals and finish with impressive grip and thrust. Combines energy and depth deftly.
Reviewed by: Josh Raynolds
Deep ruby. Smoky cherry and blackcurrant aromas convey a wild, gamey quality, along with suave floral and mineral lift; smells like a northern Rhone wine. Deep dark fruit liqueur and olive flavors are sharpened by zesty minerals and finish with impressive grip and thrust. Combines energy and depth deftly.
About the Producer
Le Vieux Donjon is one of the best wineries in the Chateauneuf-du-Pape region. In 1979, Lucien Michel and Marie Jose got married and later established the Old Church Winery. Therefore, this is a relatively young winery. Both the couple were born in the winery. Winemaking family. Their marriage combined the two families and their vineyards into a new estate, Old Church Winery. Château Vieux Cathédrale covers 32.1 acres, all on a plateau near Mont Redon and the village of Les Cabriere, whose land is covered with the famous “galets roules” (football-sized rocks). ). There are many old vines planted in the winery, including 25 acres of vines that are over 80 years old. In 1990, the Michel family planted a hectare of clairette, roussanne and grenache blanc and had already begun making fruit wines from the grapes harvested from these trees. Dry white Chateauneuf-du-Pape wine. However, the true glory of this winery is the majestic red wines they produce.