2012 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge, Domaine de la Janasse, Rhône

2012 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge, Domaine de la Janasse, Rhône

Product: 20128007023
Prices start from £320.00 per case Buying options
2012 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge, Domaine de la Janasse, Rhône

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Available by the case In Bond. Pricing excludes duty and VAT, which must be paid separately before delivery. Storage charges apply.
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Description

The blend of the Tradition is 70% Grenache and 15% each of Syrah and Mourvèdre; the vines are located on seven different parcels, mainly located to the east of the appellation, both north and south of the winery in Couthezon. The 2012 is an outstanding effort, its nose of forest floor, cassis and tapenade followed by a juicy and forward mid-palate, infused with herbs and an alchemical dose of the famous Sabon savoir faire.
Simon Field MW, Rhône Wine Buyer

Brother and sister tam of Christophe and Isabelle Sabon have taken Janasse into the pantheon of greats, seemingly by not doing very much at all, their policy of minimum intervention and organic viticulture deemed the be the key to their success. Behind this seeming inactivity, there is constant work and refinement however, with subtle changes allowing them to hone in on perfection with great skill. 2012 appeals to them; it is more rounded than 2010 and more powerful than 2011; the best of all possible outcomes in other words.

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Critics reviews

Jancis Robinson MW18/20
Vineyard soil: galets, clay-limestone. Grape varieties: 70% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 15% Mourvèdre. Lustrous, burnished crimson with layers of interest. Firm and refreshing with lots of fruit and no overdone tannins. Very confident and impressive. Grabs the attention and is impressively persistent. Very clean, neat finish.
Jancis Robinson MW, jancisrobsinson.com - Jan 2014 Read more

About this WINE

Domaine de la Janasse

Domaine de la Janasse

Brother-and-sister team Christophe and Isabelle Sabon continue to work wonders at Janasse – a domaine founded by their father, Aimé Sabon, in 1973. They now farm around 90 hectares, 18 of which are in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. These are dotted across numerous plots in the northeast of the appellation, in the commune of Courthézon, where the soils are more sandy and therefore much cooler. They also have a few parcels on the famous, clay soil plateau of La Crau. The grapes are largely de-stemmed; concrete tanks are used for the Grenache and old oak for the Syrah and Mourvèdre. In other words, everything is fairly traditional. While they have been farming largely in accordance with organic principles for years, they are now undergoing full conversion to organic and expect to gain certification in 2024.

The domaine sadly suffered terribly from frost in 2021, reducing their output by 45% (and up to 80% for their Vin de Pays wines) – it is the siblings’ smallest vintage yet. They are however pleased with the quality, and they highlight its concentration and freshness.

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Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Châteauneuf-du-Pape

The most celebrated village of the Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape is the birthplace of the now indispensable French Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée system – imperfect though it may be. Compared to the Northern Rhône, the vineyards here are relatively flat and often feature the iconic galet pebbles – the precise benefits of which are a source of much debate. Minimum alcohol levels required by the AOC are the highest in France, but at 12.5% it is well below the natural generosity of Grenache, which only achieves its full aromatic potential when it is fully ripe and laden with the resultant high sugars. Syrah and Mourvèdre contribute the other defining elements in the blend, adding pepper, savoury spice and structure to the decadent Grenache. There are a further 10 permitted red grape varieties which can be used to adjust the “seasoning”. Of the five white varieties permitted, it is Grenache Noir’s sibling – predictably perhaps – Grenache Blanc, which dominates, though Roussanne shows a great deal of promise when handled well, notably at Château de Beaucastel.

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Southern Rhône Blend

Southern Rhône Blend

The vast majority of wines from the Southern Rhône are blends. There are 5 main black varieties, although others are used and the most famous wine of the region, Châteauneuf du Pape, can be made from as many as 13 different varieties. Grenache is the most important grape in the southern Rhône - it contributes alcohol, warmth and gentle juicy fruit and is an ideal base wine in the blend. Plantings of Syrah in the southern Rhône have risen dramatically in the last decade and it is an increasingly important component in blends. It rarely attains the heights that it does in the North but adds colour, backbone, tannins and soft ripe fruit to the blend.

The much-maligned Carignan has been on the retreat recently but is still included in many blends - the best old vines can add colour, body and spicy fruits. Cinsault is also backtracking but, if yields are restricted, can produce moderately well-coloured wines adding pleasant-light fruit to red and rosé blends. Finally, Mourvèdre, a grape from Bandol on the Mediterranean coast, has recently become an increasingly significant component of Southern Rhône blends - it often struggles to ripen fully but can add acidity, ripe spicy berry fruits and hints of tobacco to blends.

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