2012 Côtes du Rhône Villages, Terre d'Argile, Domaine de la Janasse
Critics reviews
Jeb Dunnuck - 31/10/2014
I have long been a huge fan of the wines of the Sabon family of Domaine de la Janasse. Just about everything they make, from their Vin de Pays to their Cotes du Rhones to their flagship Chateauneuf du Pape wines, are remarkable. Drink 2013-2019
Robert Parker - Wine Advocate #1113, Nov 2013
About this WINE
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.
Côtes du Rhône
Côtes du Rhône, located in southern France’s Rhône Valley, is one of the country’s largest and most well-known wine appellations. The region is renowned for producing a wide range of high-quality wines, with vineyards extending from just south of Lyon in the north to Avignon in the south, covering both banks of the Rhône River.
Côtes du Rhône is celebrated for its wide array of red and white grape varieties. The primary red grape varieties include Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, and Cinsault, while the main white grape varieties consist of Viognier, Marsanne, and Roussanne.
The region is divided into several appellations, each with distinct characteristics and regulations. The hierarchy ranges from the broad Côtes du Rhône appellation to more specific and prestigious sub-appellations like Côtes du Rhône Villages and Crus such as Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas, and Hermitage.
The region benefits from a diverse terroir, contributing to the different wine styles. The northern part has a continental climate, while the southern portion enjoys a Mediterranean climate, which plays a vital role in grape ripening and flavour development.
The red wines are highly regarded for their rich and robust flavours. They often exhibit notes of dark fruits, herbs, spices, and distinctive peppery quality, especially in the Syrah-dominated wines from the northern Rhône.
The white wines are typically aromatic and elegant, with flavours of stone fruits, floral notes, and hints of mineral complexity.
Côtes du Rhône also produces excellent rosé wines, which are refreshing and perfect for warm weather enjoyment.
Winemaking in Côtes du Rhône has a long history from ancient times. The region preserves a combination of traditional methods and modern techniques, allowing winemakers to express the unique characteristics of their terroir.
Côtes du Rhône wines are versatile and pair well with a wide range of dishes, including roasted meats, hearty stews, grilled vegetables, and cheeses.
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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Description
Our 2012 Rhône Vintage Recommendation: Best-value Southern Rhône Red
Such was their belief in the clay-based soil of the parcel from which this cuvée is made, the Sabons apparently traded some Châteauneuf-du-Pape vines for it. This trade would normally seem commercially questionable, but the quality is here is undeniable and the value is almost unmatchable. The nose is impressively deep, with a dark, herbal tone and a liquorice note; the very pure fruit on the palate is undercut nicely by a fresh finish with subtle spice.
From vines just outside the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation, this oozes deep, pure fruit with plenty of that inimitable spice and dried herbs. Yet another contender for best-value wine in our offer.
Tom Cave, Cellar Plan Manager
From one of Châteauneuf-du-Pape’s great estates, this cracking Côtes du Rhône exemplifies the quality that it is rightly famous for. With equal parts of Grenache, Mouvedre, Syrah and Carignan, the result is a sophisticated, opulent wine with real class and far above normal CDR standards.
Mat Tipping, Private Account Manager
If one really must resort to the platitude of a wine ‘boxing above its division’, then one may as well do it here, one of those wines which always sells well amongst Berry Bros. & Rudd staff, such is its superb quality/price ratio. The blend is between Grenache, Syrah, Carignan and Mourvèdre, the latter two adding a controlled rusticity to an otherwise very polished ensemble, thereby enhancing its capacity to fascinate and thrill the taster with a real sense of authenticity.
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 vitic
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