Le Vieux Donjon

In this village that has produced so many renowned Rhone wines, Le Vieux Donjon has always operated with a low profile. Over the decades, this unassuming family-run estate has built an outstanding reputation for producing some of the most reliable and elegant Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines on the market.

History

The Michel family has been involved in viticulture for generations. Around 1900, their main business was the manufacture of wine barrels, with grapes sold wholesale as a by-product. The estate as it is as of this day was founded by Marcel Michel in 1966. In 1979, management passed to his son Lucien Michel and his wife Marie-Josée (an agronomist), who began expanding the estate and bottling their own wines. Marie-Josée managed the vineyards whilst Lucien handled sales; from the outset, they made the bold decision to export 95% of their production. In 2008, they handed over the reins to their daughter, Claire Michel-Fabre, and in 2012 her brother François also joined the team.

Vineyards

The estate covers a total area of approximately 17 to 18 hectares, of which around 17 hectares are planted with red grape varieties and just 1 hectare with white grapes. These plots are scattered across several lieux-dits within the appellation, including Bois de Boursan, Le Pied Long, Cabrières, Le Mourre de Gaud and Champigne. Following the acquisition in 2012, the estate added a sandy plot adjacent to Château Rayas, enabling it to encompass the four classic terroirs of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The estate takes pride in its ancient Grenache vines, over a third of which are more than a century old. The vineyards are cultivated using organic methods.

Terroir

Châteauneuf-du-Pape is renowned for its soil diversity, and Le Vieux Donjon makes full use of these characteristics: including large, rounded pebbles known as ‘galets’, clay, limestone and sandy soil. Each soil type makes a unique contribution to the final blend: the sandy plots impart finesse and a lightness of aroma, whilst the pebbles provide structure and warmth.

Grape Varieties

The red wine is made from Grenache, typically classic Châteauneuf-du-Pape style. The standard blend comprises approximately 75% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre and 5% Cinsault, with small additions of other authorised varieties. One hectare is planted with local varieties permitted by the appellation, mainly for producing white wines.

Winemaking

Winemaking methods strictly adhere to tradition: no overly pronounced oak flavours are used, nor is excessive extraction practised. The degree of destemming depends on the harvest conditions. All varieties are blended, with the exception of Mourvèdre, which is vinified separately. Fermentation takes place in old-style square concrete vats. The ageing period lasts approximately 18 months: around 80% of the wine is aged in large oak barrels, whilst the remainder is aged in concrete vats, before bottling. This approach aims to preserve the freshness of the fruit and allow the terroir to fully express itself.

Wines

Le Vieux Donjon produces two wines within the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation: a red and a white. The red is the estate’s flagship wine, renowned for its intense aromas and elegant style, and possesses excellent ageing potential, capable of maturing for 15 to 20 years or even longer. The rare ‘Cuvée Spéciale’ was bottled in very limited quantities only in 1990 and 1998. The estate produces no second label and avoids the hype surrounding single-vineyard wines; year after year, it releases just two meticulously crafted wines.