Jéroboam Châteauneuf-du-Pape rouge 2023 Le Vieux Donjon | Rhône

Châteauneuf-du-Pape rouge du Vieux Donjon takes root in the various parcels of the wine estate located between Châteauneuf and Courthézon, on emblematic terroirs combining rolled pebbles, red clay and sandy limestone. These soils, characteristic of the appellation, ensure both heat accumulation and water regulation, enabling the grapes to reach full ripeness while maintaining balance. The blend is predominantly Grenache, complemented by Syrah, Mourvèdre and Cinsault. The vines, on average several decades old, are rigorously cultivated and hand harvested. Winemaking is based on long maceration in concrete vats, followed by ageing in oak barrels for 12 months, with no marked woodiness to preserve the purity of the fruit.

Philippe Mischler, sommelier at Mundovin: This Châteauneuf-du-Pape rouge du Vieux Donjon continues the style for which the wine estate is renowned, with its rare ability to combine depth and restraint. Where some Châteauneufs can tip over into opulence, Le Vieux Donjon offers a straighter, more digestible and deeply balanced reading. It's a signature wine that's both faithful to its terroir and immediately readable, appealing to both connoisseurs and enthusiasts of the great reds of the Southern Rhône.

The nose opens with intensity, but without excess, on a register of ripe black fruits with black cherry and plum, quickly enriched by notes of garrigue, thyme, laurel and sweet spices. With aeration, nuances of black pepper, licorice, leather and a hint of smoke appear, adding complexity and depth without ever weighing the wine down.

The palate confirms this impression of controlled balance: the attack is ample and velvety, carried by present but perfectly integrated tannins. The dense yet fluid body develops flavors of black fruits, spices and light chocolate notes, supported by a fresh structure that stretches the wine. The long, straightforward, subtly saline finish prolongs the tasting with elegance, signalling a Châteauneuf-du-Pape that is at once profound, digestible and resolutely gastronomic.