Domaine du Vieux Donjon Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge 2020
Domaine du Vieux Donjon
Vieux Donjon is one of Châteauneuf's best-kept secrets — a traditionally made wine from old vines that consistently punches above its price. The 2020 vintage channels the appellation's sun-soaked power while maintaining freshness and drinkability. This will age gracefully for a decade or more, but it's already singing.
Nose
Dark cherry and blackcurrant lead, wrapped in dried herbs and a hint of sun-warmed garrigue. There's a floral lift — violet and rose — and a subtle meaty, gamey quality that speaks to the terroir's galettes of sun-baked stones.
Palate
Full-bodied but never heavy. Ripe berry fruit is framed by fine-grained tannins and a cedar-like spice from careful élevage. Mid-palate, mint and rosemary appear alongside a savory undertow. The warmth of the 2020 vintage is well-managed.
Finish
Long and layered, with cherry, toasted herbs, and a mineral persistence that carries the wine well beyond the last sip.
- Varietal
- Grenache
- Blend
- 80% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre
- Vineyards
- Various parcels across Châteauneuf-du-Pape, vines averaging 60+ years old
- Alcohol
- 15%
- Organic / Biodynamic
- No
Food Pairing
Herb-crusted rack of lamb with ratatouille
The Michel family has farmed 37 acres of old-vine Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre in the galets roulés of Châteauneuf-du-Pape for three generations, vinifying in concrete tanks and aging in large foudres to let the terroir speak without oak interference.
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