2010 Le Vieux Donjon Châteauneuf-du-Pape
96 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2010 Chateauneuf du Pape is a traditionally made cuvee aged totally in tank and foudre. Its inky/purple color is followed by a sweet bouquet of black olives, incense, blackberries, mulberries, black cherries and lavender. This perfumed, super-concentrated 2010 possesses good acidity, ripe tannin and a full-bodied, expansive mouthfeel. This mouth-coating, saturated, dense Chateauneuf du Pape has plenty of tannin to shed, so give it 3-4 years of cellaring, and drink it over the following two decades. (10/ 2012)
96 points Wine Spectator
*Top 100 Wines of 2012* This takes a decidedly old-school approach with its very distinctive bay leaf and juniper notes leading the way, along with roasted mesquite and alder wood. The core of steeped black currant, roasted plum and blackberry fruit waits in reserve while the long, ganacheand tar-filled finish has nice rugged grip, with a peppery echo. Should cellar wonderfully. Best from 2015 through 2030. (9/ 2012)
94 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar
Deep ruby. Deeply concentrated black and blue fruits on the nose and palate, with cracked pepper and floral pastille nuances adding complexity. Juicy and energetic, with superb finishing focus and floral-driven persistence. Impeccably balanced, with the depth to age effortlessly. (2/ 2013)
94-96+ Pts Jeb Dunnuck - The Rhone Report
"Wow. The 2010 Le Vieux Donjon Châteauneuf-du-Pape, tasted as a rough blend, looks to be fantastically good and a top wine of the vintage. Delivering massive amounts of black fruits, smoke, meat juice, garrigue, and earth, this classic Châteauneuf expands in the mouth, showing a full-bodied, thick texture, superb concentration, and a broad, and chewy finish. Seriously impressive, I cannot wait to try this from bottle! As of right now, it has enough fruit and texture to allow it to drink well on release, but it should also benefit from mid-term cellaring and age beautifully."
