Le Vieux Donjon Chateauneuf-du-Pape - 2001 (750ml)

The 2001 Chateauneuf du Pape is a beauty! Classic and textbook in style, with ample cured meats, earth, herbs and mature currant and blackberry fruit, it flows onto the palate with full-bodied richness, a gorgeous texture and serious length. It’s drinking beautifully now, but will continue to shine through 2021. 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.
Wine Advocate - 95 points