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2016 Le Vieux Donjon Chateauneuf Du Pape

2016 Le Vieux Donjon Chateauneuf Du Pape

98 JD

Featured Review
The 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape is unquestionably the greatest wine made from this estate to date and surpasses the 1998, 2007, and 2010. Checking in as a normal blend of 75% Grenache, 10% each of Syrah and Mourvèdre, and the balance Cinsault, it offers a heavenly bouquet of blackcurrants, ground pepper, new saddle leather, garrigue, and an assortment of exotic spices. Deep, full-bodied, incredibly concentrated, yet with the purity, elegance, and finesse that makes this vintage so special, it can be drunk any time over the coming two decades or more. Bravo! Jeb Dunnuck

Jeb Dunnuck | 98 JD

Critic Reviews

The 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape is unquestionably the greatest wine made from this estate to date and surpasses the 1998, 2007, and 2010. Checking in as a normal blend of 75% Grenache, 10% each of Syrah and Mourvèdre, and the balance Cinsault, it offers a heavenly bouquet of blackcurrants, ground pepper, new saddle leather, garrigue, and an assortment of exotic spices. Deep, full-bodied, incredibly concentrated, yet with the purity, elegance, and finesse that makes this vintage so special, it can be drunk any time over the coming two decades or more. Bravo!

Jeb Dunnuck | 98 JD
Vivid ruby-red. An exotically perfumed, expressive nose evokes ripe cherry and black raspberry, and cola, licorice and floral pastille notes add complexity. Shows impressive depth as well as energy on the palate, offering sweet dark fruit, lavender and spicecake flavors supported by a spine of juicy acidity. In a suave, graceful style for the vintage, showing outstanding clarity and a sexy floral nuance on the strikingly long finish, which features harmonious tannins and a sneaky mineral quality.

Vinous Media | 95 VM
Sister-brother team Claire Michel Fabre and François Michel have run this estate together since 2012, taking over from their father, the legendary Lucien Michel. Working with 40 acres of vines, some planted as far back as 1900, they’ve turned out an exceptional 2016. Mostly grenache, blended with a range of the other 12 red and white varieties allowed in the appellation, it unfurls like silk across the palate. First come the cherry notes, red and black combined; then come scents of rosemary, sunburnt scrub and warm rocks that fill the wine with a deep savor. The tannins are firm and polished, giving shape to a wine that keeps offering new dimensions, and promises to hold well for another 10 or 20 years.

Wine & Spirits | 95 W&S
This offers a blitz of bay leaf and juniper notes out front, followed by a racy and tightly coiled core of red and black currant, damson plum and cherry fruit flavors. Lots of brisk iron and garrigue accents rifle through the finish. Clear, precise and streamlined, this should age wonderfully. Best from 2020 through 2040. 7,000 cases made, 1,000 cases imported.

Wine Spectator | 95 WS
Fermented in concrete, then aged in foudre. No CuvĂ©e SpĂ©ciale produced, just one wine. It’s not terribly expressive on the nose at the moment. The palate is full and firm, a touch hard and tannic, though it should soften in time. Lovely weight and intensity though, showing real concentration and intensity of fruit, with a long finish. A muscular wine with real savoury thrust. Drinking Window 2020 - 2031

Decanter | 94 DEC
The full-bodied 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape is a solid effort. Blueberry, cherry and garrigue notes mark the nose, while the palate is firm but silky, with a fine balance between ripeness and grip. I’ve seen some internet criticism of this estate for moving to a riper, more modern style, but I don’t understand that—unless good cellar hygiene is now considered a problem in certain circles. This is a relatively traditional, balanced example of Châteauneuf, with spicy, savory elements combined with generous fruit. A blend of 75% Grenache, 10% each Mourvèdre and Syrah and 5% Cinsault that weighs in at 14.8% alcohol, this foudre-aged wine should drink well for a couple of decades.

Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 94 RP

Wine Details for 2016 Le Vieux Donjon Chateauneuf Du Pape

Type of Wine Chateauneuf du Pape : You can expect Chateauneuf-du-Pape reds selection to wash over you with a combination of leather, game, tar, and delicious dried herbs, creating a spice mixture that commands respect from even the harshest non-believers. Chateauneuf-du-Pape whites are ever so refreshing and bold, frolicking in a field of floral notes and earthy minerals.
Varietal Proprietary Blend : Proprietary Blend is a general term used to indicate that a wine is comprised of multiple grape varietals which are either “proprietary” to the winery or is blended and does not meet the required maximum or minimum percentage of a particular varietal. This also is the case for the grape’s place of origin, especially for region, appellation or vineyard designated wines. There are endless examples of blended wines which are labeled as “Proprietary Blend” and in conjunction with each region’s stipulated wine laws and regulations makes for a vast blanket for wines to fall into. Perhaps the simplest example is California; if a wine is to be labeled as Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, it is required to have at least 75% of the varietal (Cabernet Sauvignon) and 85% of the fruit must be cultivated from the Napa Valley wine district. If the wine does not meet the requirements, it is then labeled as Proprietary Blend.

Country France : Wine is the lifeblood that courses through the country of France, pulsing with vigorous pride and determination. Viticulture is not just a hobby or an occupation in France; it is a passion, a cherished tradition that has been passed down through generations of wine stained hands. Winemaking is a beloved art that has been ingrained in the culture, an aptitude instilled in sons by fathers and the hallmark for which France’s reputation was built, allowing it to be renowned as, arguably, the most important wine producing country in the world.



For centuries, France has been producing wines of superior quality and in much greater quantity than any other country in the world. It boasts some of the most impressive wine regions, coveted vineyards and prestigious wines on earth. The regions of Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhone, Sauternes and Champagne have become the benchmark, for which others aspire to become. Legendary producers such as Chateaux Margaux, Domaine De La Romanee Conti, Chapoutier, d’Yquem and Dom Perignon are idolized world-wide.



France has stamped its name on nearly every style of wine, from the nectar-like sweet Sauternes to hedonistic Chateauneuf Du Papes classic Bordeaux and Burgundy, to its sparkling dominance in Champagne. Many of the most infamous grape varietals in the world, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay originated in France and are not only beloved, but utilized in the creation of some of the greatest wines on earth. French wine production commands the attention of the wine market year after year. With over 860,000 hectares under vine, and numbers close to 50 million hectoliters of wine produced annually, France dominates the market and sets the standard for not only product quality, but also quantity.



France’s many contributions to the world of wine have been absolutely indispensable. The country is the originator of the term “Premier Cru,” coined the term Terroir (a French term so complex there is no literal translation) and has laid the blueprint for a structured appellation system, which others have implemented in their own countries. French vineyard techniques and winemaking practices are mimicked world-wide. California vintners have been replicating Rhone style wines for decades, South America has adopted the French varietal of Malbec and countries around the world are imitating Burgundian styled Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.



With vast diversity in terroir, France is home to some of the most hospitable winegrowing locations on earth. The combination of topography, geology, climate, rainfall and even the amount of sunlight combined with the long historical tradition of winegrowing and making, has allowed the vintners of France to not only hone their skills, but learn from nature to create a product that like the world in which it resides… is very much alive.


Region Rhone : While the Northern Rhone produces only about 5% of all wine coming out of the Rhone Valley, the quality of these bottles is not to be underestimated. The terroir in this region is heavenly for growing Syrah, Viognier, Marsanne or Rousanne - the only permitted grapes in the AOC. Picture this - the Rhone flows through the valley like an azure thread piercing the landscape, a reflection of the dreamy skies hovering above the vineyards, ready to produce rainfall at a moment's notice. The rocky soil of the steep, almost surreal hillsides provides a bountiful feast for the grapevine roots. The flavors and texture of Northern Rhone wines tell you everything you need to know as soon as your lips touch the elixir, like a whisper in the vigorous valley winds

As per the Southern Rhone wine, it is like taking a plunge into a whirlpool of juicy flavor. Every sip explodes forward like a crashing tsunami, bathing your tastebuds in delicious aromas of prune, chocolate, grass, and black fruit. The wines are so compelling that it can be hard to drink them casually at a social event without getting lost in their intricate textures and emotional depths. Let's set sail together, and drink deep from these luxurious bottles with our friends and loved ones.
Subregion Southern Rhone
Appellation Chateauneuf Du Pape

Overview

Producer Le Vieux Donjon

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