Domaine de la Janasse - IGP Principauté d'Orange Viognier 2024

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

Located on Courthézon’s finest terroirs, the Domaine de la Janasse—the pride of the Sabon family—has stood out 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 just as highly recommended. The entire range is impeccable, and the top cuvées rank among the appellation’s finest.

Guide Hachette des vins

About the estate:

A regular in the Guide, often highly ranked for its Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Côtes-du-Rhône, and IGP wines. The 90-hectare vineyard, spread across numerous plots, is 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 town of Jonquières.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

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

About the estate:

This large estate, which has belonged to 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 estate’s various cuvées. The estate also produces splendid (and high-volume) Côtes-du-Rhône wines from vineyards adjacent to the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation. With often very high levels of ripeness, the wines are opulent in style, sometimes a bit too warm in sunny vintages. On the other hand, the tannins and textures are always exceptionally refined. In recent vintages, the wines have been less focused on richness and are slightly more approachable.

Wine Spectator

Jancis Robinson

Vinous

James Suckling

Jeb Dunnuck

About the wine:

Magnificent and reminiscent of a Condrieu, the 2024 Principauté d'Orange Viognier reveals a sumptuous nose of honeyed peach, stone fruit, and minty flowers. It has a medium-bodied to full-bodied palate, with a round, supple texture and well-integrated acidity. This superbly crafted Viognier would hold its own against a Condrieu in a blind tasting. Best enjoyed between 2025 and 2028.