2008 Le Vieux Donjon Châteauneuf-du-Pape

A beautiful wine, the 2008 Le Vieux Donjon Châteauneuf-du-Pape shows the best of the vintage with elegant, classy aromatics of ripe black cherries, garrigue, spiced meat, and solid underlying minerality. Fresh and complex on the nose (picks up a touch of mole sauce with air), the wine is medium bodied on the palate with a superb, pure, light texture, perfect balance, integrated acidity and a long finish. I tasted this once at the domaine (rated 91) and then followed a bottle over two days at home. It fails to truly impress right on opening but really comes into its own on the second day. I’m a fan and would opt to let bottles rest for 2 to 3 years before drinking over the following decade. Tasted three times.

Deep red. Fresh red berries, flowers and spicecake on the nose, with a hint of white pepper adding energy. Juicy, finely etched strawberry and raspberry flavors show a pinot-like character and are framed by silky tannins. The lively finish features a lingering note of candied flowers. This graceful, understated wine should be delicious on release.

The 2008 Chateauneuf du Pape is certainly a strong effort for the vintage. Classic notes of kirsch, plum, spice box, cedar, and garrigue are accompanied by deep fruit, an attractive dark ruby/plum color, and surprising body as well as depth for a 2008. It should drink well young, and evolve for up to a decade. (Not yet released) Vieux Donjon's traditional winemaking is more and more in the hands of owner Lucien Michel's talented daughter, Claire, although both parents (Lucien and his wife Marie Jose) are still very involved. Importer: Alain Junguenet, Wines of France, Mountainside, NJ; tel. (908) 654-6173