Wines News & People
Images of Janasse courtesy of Michael Davis (Charlottesville, VA, United States).
Domaine de la Janasse is one of the Superstar estates of Chateauneuf-du-Pape combining the best of both traditional and modern techniques to craft a collection of riveting wines from “simple” value-priced to benchmark Châteauneufs.
The estate was founded in 1976 by Aimé Sabon, Christophe’s father, and assisted by son Christophe and family members Hélène and Isabelle. Together the family oversees and market some 50 hectares of vineyards, spread over as many as 70 different parcels throughout the appellation.
The estate’s more common and best wine offering includes:
Châteauneuf-du-Pape (Red): 80% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre with 1,500 to 1,800 cases made annually.
Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Chaupin (Red): 100% Grenache with 1,000 to 1,300 cases made.
Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes (Red): The estate’s best cuvee, made of 85% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 3% Mourvèdre, and 2% others from 4 different vineyards. 1,000 to 1,250 cases is produced yearly.
The value and entry level Côtes du Rhône (Red): 50% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre, 15% Carignan, and 5% Cinsault sees some 6,600 cases while Côtes du Rhône Villages Terre d’Argile (Red): Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah makes some 1,666 cases in 2006.
In general, Janasse stands out for its rich and concentrated wines with a note of ripe fruit, generous, able to retain some measure of freshness, and balance making them highly seductive. The wines are priced variedly, with most of them within reach to the average wine consumer.
Janasse is represented and distributed by the following Chinese importers in Asia: China (Shanghai) – Globus Wine, Hong Kong – Red Wine Village, and Singapore – Taste of Tradition, subsidiary Booze Wine Shop.
Domaine de La Janasse
Aimé, Christophe et Isabelle Sabon
27, Chemin du Moulin
84350 Courthezon
France
Tel: +33 4 9070 8629
Fax: +33 4 9070 7593
Email : lajanasse@free.fr
Website: www.lajanasse.com
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The 2004 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes is a seductive wine with long cellaring capability, richness and pleasant flavors.
In a recent tasting organized by Booze Wine Shop in Singapore, we sipped through 3 wines, from Domaine de la Janasse, one of the rising or some say, risen Superstar from Southern Rhone, known to make superb Chateauneuf-du-Pape and value Côtes du Rhône red wines. For more information about Booze’s next Six O’Clock Club tasting events in Singapore, please click here.
2007 Domaine de la Janasse Côtes du Rhône (France, Rhône, Southern Rhône) S$42.00.
14.0%. 50% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre, 15% Vieux Carignan and 5% Cinsault.
A value drink with freshness, blackberry spice and liquorice. Medium-bodied it has soft and lush black currant and a light texture on palate and finish. Drink between 2009 to 2010. 10/20 Tasted: February 2009.
2005 Domaine de la Janasse Côtes du Rhône Villages Terre d’Argile (France, Rhône, Southern Rhône) S$50.00.
14.0%. 1/3 Syrah 1/3 Grenache 1/3 Mourvèdre.
Fresher and more aromatic, with deep black cherry and spice. Medium-bodied, with a refreshing acidity to wake your senses, and balanced with a smooth blend of sweet berries and a light peppery finish. Drink between 2009 to 2012. 12/20 Tasted: February 2009.
2004 Domaine de la Janasse Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes (France, Rhône, Southern Rhône) S$130.00.
15.0%. 80-year old 90% Grenache vines and with the rest Syrah and Mourvedre.
A seductive and with a long cellar life ahead, the 2004 VV gets better, moving several notches up its quality ladder with density, richness, and depth. Very floral, with layers of blue and black berry, further complicated by subtle mineral and licorice undertones. Rich on the palate with a full-bodied mouth feel, accompanied by expansionary flavors of more smooth texture, silky tannin which lends this cuvee finesse on top of its core sweet dark fruit. Good medium length and memorizing finish. Very good. Best from 2010 to 2023. 15/20 Tasted: February 2009.
Earlier tasting notes:
2001 Domaine de la Janasse Châteauneuf-du-Pape (France, Rhône, Southern Rhône)
14.5%. 80% Grenache, 10% Syrah, and 10% Mourvedre.
A nose of red fruits bouquet, with richness and extraction on the nose. Medium to full-bodied, with firm acidity, good depth and balance, rounding off with a fruit driven medium finish. Best from 2006 to 2015. 11/20 Tasted: September 2007.
2002 Domaine de la Janasse Châteauneuf-du-Pape (France, Rhône, Southern Rhône)
14.5%. 80% Grenache, 10% Syrah, and 10% Mourvedre.
Tasted on Fri 21.09.2007 @ Booze Wine Shop. 14.5%. Typical blend of 80% Grenache, 10% Syrah, and 10% Mourvedre.
Classic and perfumed red fruits nose. Light to medium-bodied, a rather green (unripe) fruit feel texture, with little interest, depth an a zero finish. An unappealing Châteauneuf-du-Pape. 10/20 From 2006 to 2010. Tasted: September 2007.
2004 Domaine de la Janasse Châteauneuf-du-Pape (France, Rhône, Southern Rhône)
14.5%.80% Grenache, 10% Syrah, and 10% Mourvedre.
Like the 1999, the 2004 is lovely with good dark berries aromas. Still young and a very tough Châteauneuf-du-Pape at this stage with a medium to full-bodied mouthfeel and firm huge chewy tannins, good fruit structure and a short to medium finish. 13/20 Best from Drink between 2009 and 2018. Tasted: September 2007.