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.
by Robert Parker, Issue #203, October 2012

75% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre, 5% Cinsault. 16 months in foudre. 45,000 bottles.
Healthy deep crimson. Fruit seems borderline overripe but there is lots of interesting spice though plus a black pepper grace note. Very rich indeed! Like a sort of spice box assortment with some fine tannins on the end. Lots of intensity. Acid and tannins lurk. This could only be Châteauneuf... Its only fault is to be a tad too hot on the end. Rated 17/20
by Jancis Robinson, December 20, 2011

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.
94 points
By Josh Raynolds
Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, Jan/Feb 13

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(75% grenache, 10% each of mourvedre and syrah and 5% cinsault, fermented in concrete and aged in foudres): Bright purple. Explosive aromas of black and blue fruits, Indian spices and lavender, with a bright mineral topnote. Fleshy and smooth, with excellent clarity and lift to its black raspberry and mulberry flavors. The floral note repeats on the very long, sweet, focused finish. 93-95 points
by Stephen Tanzer, January 2012

A classic Le Vieux Donjon, the 2010 Châteauneuf-du-Pape displays a brilliantly traditional, yet pure, clean bouquet of blackberry liqueur, white pepper, licorice, crushed flowers, and roasted Provencal herbs that flows to a full-bodied, gorgeously textured and pure palate. Voluptuous and seamless, with fresh acidity and building richness and tannin, this beauty has the fruit to drink well now, yet will not hit prime time until 5-6 years after the vintage and should evolve gracefully for upwards of two decades. (96 pts.)
by Jeb Dunnuck, Issue #13, September 2012

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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. Rated 94-96+
by Jeb Dunnuck, Issue #9, September 2011