Ratings:
98
Matt Walls - Decanter
Full, lush and powerful, with a wall of intense tannin – this is an enormously powerful wine that will take many years to approach a state of drinkability. Huge concentration and huge intensity, in many ways this fits the Châteauneuf archetype of statuesque wines for very long ageing. Be prepared for a long wait, followed by rich rewards. Partly destemmed, fermented in concrete, matured for 12 months in foudres and demi-muids.
95-97+ Jeb Dunnuck - jebdunnuck.com
Lastly, the 2022 Châteauneuf Du Pape Vieille Vignes is easily the most powerful in the lineup and has a rock star nose of ripe black cherries, melted licorice, spring flowers, and gravelly earth. It's rich, full-bodied, has ripe, integrated tannins, and a great finish.
Product Description:
Domaine de la Janasse is a Châteauneuf-du-Pape producer owned and operated by the Sabon family. It was founded in 1967 by Aimé Sabon when he took over the vineyards of his father, who had been selling fruit to a wine cooperative.
A cellar was completed in 1973 and the name "La Janasse" was chosen from a local regional name in Courthézon to the north of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, where the family farm was located. In 1991 Aimé's son Christophe joined the estate, followed by his daughter Isabelle in 2001.
Domaine de la Janasse began with 15 hectares (37 acres) of estate vineyards and now has more than 90 hectares (220 acres), with 15 hectares (37 acres) in Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
The winery makes a number of wines including red and white Côtes du Rhone, and a number of IGP wines, but the flagship wines have always been the Châteauneuf-du-Pape reds. The winery makes three distinct expressions: Domaine de la Janasse Tradition, Chaupin and Vieilles Vignes.
It also makes a white version of Tradition and a second white wine called Prestige.
Janasse grows all 13 permissible grapes in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, from the standard Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah to lesser known components like Counoise, Vaccarèse, and Bourboulenc. Many of the white Châteauneuf-du-Pape varieties, along with Syrah, are planted in the slightly cooler vineyards to the north in east-exposed vineyards.
Mourvèdre is planted in sites where galets (large river stones) abound. These alluvial stones retain heat and allow the grapes to reach greater physiological ripeness.
The most significant variety in the region is Grenache, which is planted throughout the domaine vineyards. However, Janasse separates fruit from northern vineyards for use in varietal wines, and fruit in southern vineyards for blends where it can be balanced by other grapes.
TASTING NOTES: The estate's flagship cuvée, always at the top of international rankings. The robe is dark with purple
reflections. On the nose, the still discreet aromas of crushed black fruits and garrigue are just waiting to
melt into a noble and fresh substance, to reveal finesse and elegance on the palate.
