2010 Côtes du Rhône Rouge, Domaine de la Janasse

The 2010 Cotes du Rhone offers terrific berry fruit, medium to full body, good acidity, and lots of licorice, plum, Asian spice and garrigue notes. This fresh, concentrated red should drink nicely for 3-4 years.

This impeccably run estate, in the capable hands of Christophe Sabon, his sister Isabelle, and their father, is one of the superstars of the southern Rhone Valley. Over the last 12-15 years, the quality of the wines has gone from strength to strength, with brilliant wines being produced in all price categories.

They make sumptuous, complex, world-class red, white and rose Cotes du Rhones, and year-in and year-out, their Chateauneuf du Papes are among the top three or four wines of the vintage. Tasting two great vintages (2009 and 2010) from the Sabons was one of the most thrilling tastings I have had this year. My tasting began with some unbelievable Cotes du Rhones.
(Robert Parker - Wine Advocate #197 Oct 2011)