Le Vieux Donjon Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc 2012

Le Vieux Donjon Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc 2012

CHATEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE SKU: CEL-donjonBLANC12

Le Vieux Donjon Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc 2012

CHATEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE SKU: CEL-donjonBLANC12
Regular price $67.99
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MORE ARRIVING by MID-FEBRUARY

93 Vinous
Limpid yellow. A complex, highly perfumed bouquet evokes ripe citrus and pit fruits, candied fig and honey, and a chalky mineral flourish adds vivacity. Stains the palate with juicy nectarine and orange gelato flavors, along with hints of tarragon and ginger. Powerful but graceful, finishing with suave floral character and impressive, mineral-driven tenacity. - Josh Raynolds on February 2016

**** JLL
pale yellow, green glints. Soft, appealing white fruits’ aroma, with light spice in the white plum fruit, along with an orange peel air – the bouquet is attractive, supple, welcoming. The palate has a winning gras richness, a smooth texture and citrus notes. The flavours resemble infused tea such as linden (tilleul) and apricot. It combines the magic 2012 formula of freshness and richness. Good with a smoked tuna and cold tomato dish. Up to sauced dishes – poultry, fish. Good harmony here, and length. Traditional in the sense of being a wine for la table. 14.5°. 2024-26  Oct 2013

My Tasting Note
Medium gold, showing some youthful gold tones at ages 12.  The nose is pronounced, complex, with notes of dried white orchard and citrus fruits , quince, dried white flowers, and a gorgeous beam of salinity. The palate is medium to full bodied, perfectly integrated medium acidity, pronounced and deep flavors float and cascade over the palate into a long, rich finish accented perfectly by the salinity.
This one stopped me in my tracks and was one of the few wines I went back to try a second time.  Tasting it with the 2023 to its side was such a cool experience to see the wine's evolution.

  • 50/50 blend of Roussanne and Clairette
  • The fruit comes from just 1 hectare of vines
  • Fermented in steel at cool temperatures to preserve aromatics and freshness, it also sees a quick six months of aging in stainless steel tank before bottling.
  • Production is tiny, less than 300 cases on average.

Chateauneuf du Pape blanc does not tend to age very long, but that has a lot to do with how the wine is made and the grapes used, not just the terroir. At Donjon, they ferment at controlled lower temperatures in steel, which is very important for the balance, character and the longevity of the wine. The slower fermentation at colder temperatures preserves the wine's aromatics and it preserves the freshness of the wine which ultimately keeps the wine the balance as it ages and why this wine is able to be sold confidently as a mature and in good condition CdP Blanc.

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