2022 Domaine de la Janasse Cuvee Chaupin Chateauneuf du Pape 750 ml

In 1967, Aimé Sabon returned from military service and took over his father's 15 hectares of vines. After establishing himself as one of the most meticulous growers in the southern Rhône, Sabon built a new cellar and, in 1973, he cautiously took the plunge. Unlike his father, Aimé Sabon would not be perfectly content to sell his grapes at harvest to the highest bidder. Instead, he bottled just a few thousand bottles of estate-grown Châteauneuf-du-Pape at Domaine de La Janasse.

Little by little, Sabon increased production, reinvested profits, and began looking for new opportunities. But as he’d soon learn, acquiring old-vine parcels in Châteauneuf requires plenty of patience. Over the next 20 years, Domaine de La Janasse would expand to 15 hectares in Châteauneuf-du-Pape—albeit split up over 15 distinct parcels!

His patience and hard work paid off, just in time to hand off the farm to his kids. As Robert Parker’s publication put it: “In case you haven’t been following any of the Wine Advocate reports over the past decade, Domaine de La Janasse, under the leadership of siblings Christophe and Isabelle Sabon, is one of the top two or three estates in the Southern Rhône.” 

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Chaupin comprises 100% Grenache grown on lieux-dits of Chapouin, La Janasse, and La Crau. The vines are tended without pesticides or herbicides, the grapes are harvested manually and given a long 26-day maceration, with daily punchdowns. The wine is brought up in foudres and demi-muids for a full year. 

The result is a gorgeous picture of Châteauneuf-du-Pape elegance. Showing a deep, dark purple-ruby core, the wine’s aromas are led by an array of dark stewed blackberry and plum cradled on a basket of violets, black pepper, and lavender seed with a hint of tobacco. The palate is lush, driven by dark fruit with baking spice and a juicy core, with silky tannins carrying an everlasting finish.