| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | France > Rhône > Southern Rhône > Châteauneuf-du-Pape |
| Colour | Red |
| Type | Still |
View all vintages of this wine | View all wines by Le Vieux Donjon (Lucien Michel)
The 1998 Chateauneuf du Pape from the Michel family was firing on all cylinders for this retrospective, and while I’ve had bottles stateside that seem tired, this was beautiful on all accounts. Garrigue, truffle, leather and plenty of ripe fruit flow to a full-bodied, mouth filling and unctuously textured feel on the palate. A classic, foudre-aged blend of 75% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 10% Mourvedre and the rest other permitted varieties, I would drink bottles ASAP while they’re showing this beautifully, but it will certainly hold nicely for another 7-8 years.
Good medium red. Captivating, flamboyantly ripe aromas of raspberry, woodsmoke, maple syrup, pepper and botanical herbs. Sweet, smooth and silky on the palate, with a positive rusticity that screams out Chateauneuf du Pape (or at least old-fashioned Chateauneuf du Pape). Wonderfully concentrated and expressive wine, finishing with serious ripe tannins and excellent length. Delicious now but should last.
Another 1998 Châteauneuf du Pape I underrated by several points, this immense, concentrated, majestic, old style offering boasts a dense ruby/purple colour in addition to a gorgeous nose of licorice, tobacco, dried herbs, smoke, blackberries, cassis and aged beef. Sensationally rich, ripe, full-bodied, and unctuous, with high levels of tannin, this is a classic vin de garde requiring another 2-4 years of cellaring. It should keep for 20-25 years.
One of my favorite estates in Chateauneuf du Pape, Le Vieux Donjon is impeccably run by the Michel family. Traditionally made, classic Chateauneuf du Pape without any compromises.
This outstanding wine could turn out to be a spectacular Chateauneuf du Pape that rivals the dazzlingly sumptuous 1990. The color is a saturated ruby/purple, and the wine is obviously made from extremely low yields and/or old vines. Knock-out aromas of smoke, spice, licorice, dried herbs, and black fruits jump from the glass of this full-bodied, powerfully constructed, unctuously-textured wine. A riveting mid-palate suggests superb intensity, concentration, and potential longevity. Think of this wine as blood of the Grenache! Its low acidity gives it a forward appeal, which will serve it well when released next year. It also possesses the power, stuffing, and concentration to last for 15+ years. A blockbuster!
