Chateauneuf du Pape Le Vieux Donjon 2019 (1.5L)

96 Points, Wine Spectator: "A brick house, this sports a chiseled edge as a mix of juniper, cassis, plum, bay leaf, charcoal and graphite notes all align thanks to the racy structure and vibrant energy. Built for the cellar, with a lovely old school whiff through the finish. Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Cinsault. Best from 2024 through 2038." 10/21

98 Points, Matt Walls, Decanter: "Very full-bodied with a lovely sweetness to the fruit, fine tannins and great freshness. Really shot through with juicy, sweet, chocolatey tannins and great concentration. Very well balanced however, not heavy or aggressive with a stony minerality on the finish. The most impressive barrel sample of Vieux Donjon I've ever tasted - this is profound stuff. This traditional estate owns 18ha of Châteauneuf, with considerable plantings of old-vine Grenache. Fermented in concrete vats, then aged in concrete and old foudres. (Drink between 2025-2048)" 10/20

99 Points, Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com: "I was able to taste the 2019 Châteauneuf-du-Pape multiple times, and it’s the finest vintage I’ve ever tasted from this estate, surpassing even the 2016. Lovers of classic, impeccably made Châteauneuf du Pape should back up the truck on this beauty. A wine of incredible richness and depth, as well as elegance, it has a gorgeous nose of peppery herbs, blackberries, garrigue, cured meats, and sandalwood. Full-bodied and concentrated, it builds incrementally on the palate and is perfectly balanced, with sensational purity, ripe tannins, and a great, great finish. There’s nothing over the top or out of place, and traditionally made Châteauneuf du Pape doesn’t get much better. It needs 2-4 years of bottle age and will shine for well over two decades. Bravo!" 11/21

95 Points, Josh Raynolds, Vinous: "Dark violet. Highly fragrant red/blue fruit preserve, potpourri and garrigue aromas and building licorice and exotic spice accents on the nose. Impressively concentrated and penetrating on the palate, offering alluringly sweet cherry, boysenberry, candied lavender and spicecake flavors that tighten up steadily through the back half. Shows plenty of power but comes of lithe and finishes extremely long, smooth and spicy, with polished tannins lending subtle grip." 11/21

96 Points, Joe Czerwinski, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: A great vintage of Vieux Donjon, the 2019 Chateauneuf du Pape is still sturdy and tannic, marked by concentrated dark fruit. Powerful and concentrated, it deserves another few years in the cellar, although it begins to be approachable after four hours in a decanter." 09/23

18 Points, Alistair Cooper MW, JancisRobinson.com: "Cask sample. Oodles of fresh fruit with a sense of earthy minerality – fragrant sweet blueberry pie. A note of leather and then followed by layers of very fine refined tannins that drench the whole palate but always with grace, a lovely note of chocolate and violets with a mish mash of dark and red fruits – ripe, generous, succulent but also very focussed. Absolutely delicious. (AC) (Drink between 2025-2045)" 10/20