Vieux Donjon dinner notes:
2009 - dark red with a super ripe nose, fairly tannic, with a decent balance and good length, but it didn’t impress me.
2007 – also dark red but not as tannic or tight, nor as ripe, this was showing some nice spice notes, none of the heat I had feared, and was forward and drinkable with more complexity than the 09.
2006 – some nice spice notes here as well, mellowing and nice drinking now with a softer finish. Not sure where this is going, but good drinking at the moment.
2005 - nice slightly funky nose with mushroom, forest floor and some black pepper. Good concentration and length with some pepper on palate as well. Has a future. Should have bought this vintage.
2004 – colour was noticeably lighter on this one, and there was a marked difference in the nosed with the emphasis more on mature fruit with some waxy notes. Mellow and medium long with some dark cherry popping up near the end. Drinks well now.
2003 – Sweeter nose with excellent fruit levels and a good plummy nose with some spice. Mellow and long in the mouth, almost a tad New World in impression, I went back to it and notes cassis in the entry. Nice. Did buy this one!
2001 – ripe slightly funky nose of savoury mushroom and meat , medium weight, soft tannins and some pepper. Drinking well now – in a more classic idiom than some of the earlier vintages.
2000 - medium colour, more funk in the nose, settling down to dark fruit tinged with mushroom. Good fruit levels and acidity, lots of white pepper.
1999 – fairly funky cherry and anise nose, showing a little age in the colour. Mellow smooth and long, at a nice place now – very decent.
1998 – corked. Damn!
1995 - good colour, some blood and dark cherry in this nose, mellow, fully mature and smooth. Drink now.
1990 – lighter in colour, with nice peppery earthy nose with dark plummy fruit, and more plum on palate with a long smooth finish with soft tannins and final hints of pepper. I really liked this and it is at peak. If you have them, drink them – they won’t get any better but should hold medium term. First bottle I’ve opened of my stash.