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

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

On the finest terroirs of Courthézon, the Domaine de la Janasse, the pride of the Sabon family, has been one of the appellation's leading names for over 40 years. Christophe Sabon produces Côtes-du-Rhône wines of the highest quality, with a rare depth. The Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines are expressed in different vintages: Chaupin, from a cold terroir with a very Burgundian approach, or the Vieilles Vignes vintage, which is more sunny and racy. Finally, the whites, overshadowed by the reds, are just as recommendable. The entire range is impeccable and the great vintages are among the benchmarks of the appellation.

Decanter

About wine:

Pure, medium-bodied, with a beautiful fine texture and wonderfully velvety. The fruit and tannins are ripe, abundant but refined, mature and succulent, with a long finish. The alcohol content is slightly high, but this suits the wine. Well-balanced, fresh and textured, it is discreet but generous. Partially destemmed, fermented in concrete, aged for 12 months in oak barrels and demi-muids.

Guide Hachette des vins

About the estate:

A regular feature in the Guide, often highly ranked for its Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Côtes-du-Rhône, and IGP wines. A 90-hectare vineyard scattered across multiple plots, run by Christophe Sabon and his sister Isabelle, children of Aimé Sabon, who founded the estate in 1973. The estate was expanded in 2015 with the purchase of Clos Saint-Antonin and its 15 hectares of vines in the commune of Jonquières.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About wine:

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

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

About wine:

The aromatic palette unambiguously asserts its southern character, with the signature Mourvèdre bringing a hint of garrigue and spices. The nose is enveloped by discreet aging that adds further polish. The palate has good depth but is tighter than the Chaupin cuvée. For a cuvée intended for aging, it is less full-bodied than the 2020 vintage.

About the estate:

This large estate, which has belonged to the Sabon family for generations, is one of the elite properties in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The vineyards of Châteauneuf-du-Pape are mainly located in the commune of Courthézon, with a variety of plots and soils that are reflected in the different vintages. The estate also produces splendid Côtes-du-Rhône vintages (and in significant volumes) from vineyards adjacent to the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation. With often very high levels of ripeness, the wines are opulent in style, sometimes a little too warm in sunny vintages. On the other hand, the tannins and textures are always very refined. In recent vintages, the wines have been less rich and slightly more digestible.

Wine Spectator

Jancis Robinson

About wine:

Soft, fragrant, ripe black fruits, licorice, and spices. Seductive and opulent on the palate, with rich fruit and fine tannins. A beautiful fragrant note and deep black fruits. Such a concentration of fruit—hedonistic—will give great pleasure over time.

Vinous

James Suckling

Jeb Dunnuck

About wine:

The Châteauneuf du Pape Vieille Vignes 2021 is one of the best wines of the vintage. Made primarily from 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-bodied to full-bodied, balanced and elegant, it has fine tannins, beautiful fruit purity and remarkable length. It is hard to resist today, but it will benefit from a year or two of bottle aging and can be enjoyed for over a decade.