In Bond Fine Wine. 2009 Vieux Donjon Chateauneuf du Pape, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone, France. Red Rhone in 12x75cl. Top critic score: 94/100 (RP). Drinking window: 2013–2024. Sold in bond by Albany Vintners, independent fine wine merchants.
James Molesworth (JM) — 93/100 · Wine Spectator, 30/09/2011 · Drink 2013-2024
Rock-solid, with a big, winey core of cassis, blackberry paste and crushed fig fruit pushed by smoldering tobacco, juniper, mesquite and warm, bittersweet cocoa notes. The muscular finish has lots of grip in reserve. Best from 2013 through 2024.
Jeb Dunnuck (JD) — 94/100 · Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com, 28/08/2014
Also gorgeous, but in a more forward, perfumed style, the 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape is loaded with kirsch, wild strawberry, licorice, Asian spice and wild herb-like aromas and flavors. Full-bodied, sweetly fruited, voluptuous and textured, it's hard to resist now, but will age gracefully.
Jeb Dunnuck (JD) — 93/100 · JebDunnuck.com, 25/09/2011
A very classically styled and structured wine, the 2009 Le Vieux Donjon Chateauneuf-du-Pape, a blend of 80% Grenache and the rest Syrah and Mourv'dre, delivers captivating and slightly feral aromatics of garrigue, licorice, white pepper, leather, black cherry, and raspberry styled fruits on the nose. Readers looking for a textbook example of CDP for blind tastings couldn't do much better than thi…