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

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

Located on the finest terroirs of Courthézon, Domaine de la Janasse—the pride of the Sabon family—has established itself for over 40 years as one of the appellation’s leading producers. Christophe Sabon produces Côtes-du-Rhône wines of the highest caliber, with rare depth. The Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines are expressed through various cuvées: Chaupin, from a cooler terroir with a distinctly Burgundian character, and the Vieilles-Vignes cuvée, which is sunnier and more refined. Finally, the whites, though often overshadowed by the reds, are equally highly recommended. The entire range is impeccable, and the top cuvées rank among the appellation’s finest.

Decanter

About the wine:

Pure, medium-bodied, with a lovely, fine texture and a beautifully velvety mouthfeel. The fruit and tannins are fully ripe; they are abundant yet refined, ripe, and succulent, and the finish is long. The alcohol content is slightly high, but it suits the wine well. With good balance, freshness, and texture, it is understated yet generous. Partially destemmed, fermented in concrete tanks, aged for 12 months in large oak casks and demi-muids.

Guide Hachette des vins

About the estate:

A regular in the Guide, often highly rated for its Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Côtes-du-Rhône, and IGP wines. A 90-hectare vineyard spread across numerous plots, managed by Christophe Sabon and his sister Isabelle, the 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 vineyards in the commune of Jonquières.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the wine:

The 2021 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes is a powerful wine that offers supple, velvety notes 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 the wine:

The aromatic profile unmistakably reveals its southern character, with the signature Mourvèdre bringing a hint of garrigue and spices. The nose is enveloped by subtle aging that continues to develop. The full-bodied palate is more tightly structured than that of the Chaupin cuvée. For a wine meant for aging, it is less robust than the 2020 vintage.

About the estate:

This large estate, which has been owned by the Sabon family for generations, ranks among the elite of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The Châteauneuf-du-Pape vineyards are primarily located in the commune of Courthézon, with a variety of plots and soil types reflected in the different vintages. The estate also produces splendid Côtes-du-Rhône cuvées (in significant volumes), sourced from vineyards adjacent to the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation. With often very high ripeness levels, the wines are opulent in style, sometimes a bit too warm in sunny vintages. On the other hand, the tannins and textures are always of great finesse. In recent vintages, the wines have been less focused on richness and are slightly more approachable.

Wine Spectator

Jancis Robinson

About the wine:

Smooth and aromatic, with notes of ripe black fruit, licorice, and spices. The palate is seductive and opulent, with a rich fruit profile and refined tannins. It offers a lovely aromatic quality along with deep black fruit notes. This hedonistic concentration of fruit will provide great enjoyment as it ages.

Vinous

James Suckling

Jeb Dunnuck

About the wine:

The 2021 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieille Vignes is one of the best wines of the vintage. Composed primarily of Grenache (15% Mourvèdre and 5% Syrah), with one-third of the grapes destemmed, it offers a Burgundian bouquet of black cherries, red currants, peppery herbs, graphite, and a chalky minerality. Medium-bodied to full-bodied, balanced and elegant, it features fine tannins, beautiful fruit purity, and remarkable length. It’s hard to resist today, but it will benefit from a year or two of bottle aging and can be enjoyed for over a decade.