Story
Vieux Donjon
Châteauneuf-du-Pape · Rhône · France
Le Vieux Donjon might be a relatively young winery by French standards, but it's already made a significant mark on the wine world. Founded in 1966 by Marcel Michel, it originally sold its grapes to negociants. But since 1979, under the guidance of Lucien Michel and Marie-José Lucien Michel, it's become a household name in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Both Lucien and Marie-José come from families with deep roots in winemaking, and they brought their families' vineyards together to form what we know today as Le Vieux Donjon. The estate spans 15 hectares in the Southern Rhône, with 14 dedicated to producing red Châteauneuf-du-Pape and 1 to white wine grapes.
“The real jewels of Le Vieux Donjon are its old-vine Grenache, some nearly 100 years old, and over a third of their vines are over a century old.”
Farming is organic, and the winery takes a traditional approach to making Châteauneuf-du-Pape, only partially destemming the grapes. Their secret isn't really a secret at all—they're masters at picking their old-vine grapes right at the moment of perfect ripeness. Their wines are characterised by real definition, elegance and power.
