Domaine de la Janasse - Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes 2021

Bettane & Desseauve

About the domain :

On the finest terroirs in Courthézon, the Domaine de la Janasse, the pride of the Sabon family, has established itself as one of the appellation's benchmarks for over 40 years. Christophe Sabon produces Côtes-du-Rhône wines of the highest level, with rare depth. The Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines are expressed through different cuvées: chaupin, from a cold terroir with a very Burgundian approach, or the cuvée vieilles-vignes, sunnier and racier. Finally, the whites, in the shadow of the reds, are just as recommendable. The entire range is beyond reproach, and the great vintages are among the appellation's benchmarks.

Decanter

About the wine:

Pure, medium-bodied, with a fine, beautifully velvety texture. The fruit and tannins are not lacking in ripeness, they are abundant but fine, ripe and succulent, and the finish is long. Alcohol is slightly high, but this suits the wine. Good balance, freshness and texture, it's discreet but not lacking in generosity. Partially destemmed, fermented in concrete, aged for 12 months in foudre and demi-muid.

Guide Hachette des vins

About the domain :

A regular in the Guide, often featured prominently for its Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Côtes-du-Rhône and IGP wines. Christophe Sabon and his sister Isabelle, children of Aimé Sabon, who founded the estate in 1973, manage a 90-hectare vineyard scattered over many parcels. The estate was completed in 2015 with the purchase of Clos Saint-Antonin and its 15 ha of vines in the Jonquières commune.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the wine:

Châteauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes 2021 is a powerful wine offering supple, velvety waves of ripe black cherries and black raspberries. Medium to full-bodied, it is rich and concentrated without appearing heavy or unbalanced, with a long, juicy finish.

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the wine:

The aromatic palette unambiguously asserts its southern character, with Mourvèdre's signature hint of garrigue and spice. The nose is enveloped by a discreet ageing process that takes on a patina. On the palate, the wine has good scope, but is tighter than the Cuvée Chaupin. For a cuvée de garde, it is less full-bodied than the 2020 vintage.

About the domain :

This great estate, which has belonged to the Sabon family for generations, is one of Châteauneuf-du-Pape's elite. Most of the Châteauneuf-du-Pape vines are located in the commune of Courthézon, with the parcels and soils of the various cuvées being fragmented. The domaine also produces some splendid Côtes-du-Rhône cuvées (important in terms of volume), from vines adjacent to the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation. With often very high maturities, the wines are opulent in style, sometimes a little too warm in sunny vintages. On the other hand, the tannins and textures are always of great finesse. In recent vintages, the wines have become less rich and slightly more digestible.

Wine Spectator

Jancis Robinson

About the wine:

Smooth, fragrant, ripe black fruits, licorice and spices. Seductive, opulent palate, with rich fruit and fine tannins. A beautiful perfumed note and deep black fruits. Such a concentration of fruit - hedonistic - will give much pleasure over time.

Vinous A. Galloni

James Suckling

Jeb Dunnuck

About the wine:

Châteauneuf du Pape Vieille Vignes 2021 is one of the finest wines of the vintage. Mainly Grenache (15% Mourvèdre and 5% Syrah), a third of which has been destemmed, it offers a Burgundian bouquet of black cherries, redcurrants, peppery herbs, graphite and chalky minerality. Medium to full-bodied, balanced and elegant, it boasts fine tannins, beautiful purity of fruit and remarkable length. It's hard to resist today, but it will benefit from a year or two of bottle ageing and can be enjoyed for well over a decade.