Le Vieux Donjon : Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2022

Characteristics and tasting tips for Le Vieux Donjon Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2022

Tasting

Colour
It reveals an intense colour with bright ruby and vivid purple hues.

Nose
Vibrant and wonderfully fresh, the nose offers a complex bouquet of ripe red and black fruit such as black raspberry, cherry and blackcurrant. Mediterranean notes of garrigue and sweet spices add depth, along with subtle smoky and mineral touches.

Palate
Elegant and harmonious, the palate shows a silky texture supported by fine, ripe tannins. Its lively acidity gives it plenty of energy, carrying it through to a long, textured finish with subtle saline and peppery notes.

Food and wine pairings

This red wine is a superb match for roast or grilled meats such as herb-crusted rack of lamb or spiced duck breast, as well as slow-cooked dishes like a Provençal daube. It also pairs beautifully with Mediterranean cuisine and aged hard cheeses.

Serving and cellaring

For optimal enjoyment, serve this Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2022 at a temperature of 16 to 18°C, decanting it for around an hour while it is young. This wine can be enjoyed now, but has the ageing potential to be cellared until around 2042.

A great Rhône Valley wine by Le Vieux Donjon

The estate

Located in the Rhône Valley, Le Vieux Donjon truly came into being as an estate bottling its own wines in 1966. Now run by siblings Claire and François Michel, this family estate of around 18 hectares stands out for its classic approach and its refusal to produce prestige cuvées. Faithful to a single-cuvée model, the estate crafts authentic wines that reflect their terroir, while committing to environmentally friendly viticulture, with organic certification currently underway.

The vineyard

The vineyard extends across the northern and north-western sectors of the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation. It is built on a mosaic of four emblematic terroirs: predominantly rounded pebbles, complemented by sand, clay and limestone. The vines, with an average age of over 60 years and some century-old Grenache plots, are harvested by hand and farmed using methods very close to organic agriculture.

The vintage

The 2022 vintage was marked by extreme weather conditions in the southern Rhône. This sun-drenched year saw intense heat, heatwaves and significant water stress, requiring meticulous vineyard management to preserve the balance of the berries.

Vinification and ageing

For this Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2022, 50% of the harvest is destemmed. Fermentation takes place in concrete vats using indigenous yeasts, with maceration lasting around 25 days. This Rhône Valley wine is then aged for almost 18 months, mainly in large old wooden foudres as well as in concrete vats, with no new oak whatsoever in order to preserve the purity of the fruit.

Grape varieties

Grenache (75%), Syrah (10%), Mourvèdre (10%), Cinsault (5%)