Wine Advisor
Domaine de la Janasse, Chateauneuf Du Pape Chaupin 2013
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Jeb Dunnuck
What could be one of the wines of the vintage, the 2013 Châteauneuf du Pape Cuvee Chaupin, which was harvested October 6-7, has beautiful depth and concentration to go with notes of blackberry, spring flowers, licorice and peppery herbs. Due to the horrible yields for Grenache, production here is down 35%. It should drink nicely on release and have 10-15 years of longevity.
Reviewed by: Jeb Dunnuck
One of the wines of the vintage is the Grenache-dominated 2013 Châteauneuf du Pape Cuvée Chaupin. Coming mostly from a cool terroir in the northeast corner of the appellation (just to the east of Beaucastel), this wine is vinified with a small portion of stems and aged mostly in foudre (one-third is in demi-muids). It has gorgeous Grenache flair in its black raspberry, garrigue, spring flower and licorice scented bouquet. This gives way to a medium to full-bodied, elegant, and layered 2013 that has more texture and sweet fruit than just about every other wine in the vintage. I'd drink it anytime over the coming 4-5 years, but it will have 10-15 years of overall longevity.
Reviewed by: Josh Raynolds
Bright ruby-red. Vibrant, mineral-tinged red berry and floral pastille aromas pick up note of garrigue and incense with air and show excellent clarity. Sappy, incisive and lively on the palate, offering sweet black raspberry, cherry and lavender flavors and a spicy touch of white pepper. The mineral and floral notes echo strongly on the impressively persistent finish, which is framed by silky, harmonious tannins.
Reviewed by: Josh Raynolds
Brilliant ruby-red. Intensely perfumed red berry and floral scents are complicated by star anise, allspice and orange zest. Spicy, focused and pure, offering intense raspberry and bitter cherry flavors that become fleshier and sweeter with air. Packs a solid punch but comes off as elegant and precise, finishing with superb thrust, supple tannins and lingering florality.
About the Producer
Founded in 1973 by Aime Sabon, Domaine de la Janasse is particularly young in comparison to the older French wineries. The vineyards were originally owned by Aime Sabon's father, who did not make wine, and the grapes were sold in bulk to wine merchants; in 1967, Aime Sabon retired from the Navy and returned home to take over the vineyards, and in 1973, he built his own cellar, thus creating Domaine de la Janasse. Domaine de la Janasse covers 137.5 acres and has vineyards in several different appellations, including: Chateauneuf du Pape, Cotes du Rhone and Cotes du Rhone Village. The vines of Domaine de la Janasse are planted on different soils and some are very old, up to 90 years old. The fruit from these old vines is used to produce Janasse Cuvee Vieilles Vinges, the estate's speciality. Domaine de la Janasse produces wines in the new style of Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines. Since 1993, the winery has been destemming the grapes from the harvest. This practice has continued and to date at least 80% of the berries are destemmed before fermentation. The Grenache is fermented in stainless steel tanks; the Mourvedre and Syrah are fermented in short conical oak barrels. Grenache is matured in large oak barrels; Mourvedre and Syrah are matured in a mixture of new French oak barrels and large oak barrels, which can add a new and trendy style to their wines.
