Wine Advisor
Domaine de la Janasse, Chateauneuf Du Pape Chaupin 2017
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Joe Czerwinski
A tank sample of the 2017 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Chaupin (Grenache) showed terrific concentration, crisp acids and firm tannins. It lacks the prettiness and charm of the 2016, but it should still turn out excellent.
Reviewed by: Joe Czerwinski
The all-Grenache 2017 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Chaupin is sourced from sandy soils and ages in a combination of foudres and demi-muids. It shows more structure than the regular cuvée, supporting the ripe raspberry and blackberry fruit with bright acids and velvety tannins. Full-bodied and rich, it's long, picking up hints of licorice on the finish.
Reviewed by: Josh Raynolds
Brilliant magenta. Ripe red and blue fruits, potpourri, incense and Moroccan spices on the deeply perfumed, expansive nose. Stains the palate with sweet boysenberry, black raspberry and floral pastille flavors, which are sharpened by building mineral and white pepper flourishes. Shows the depth and power of the vintage but comes off lively, even graceful. Delivers strong floral thrust on the extremely long, gently tannic finish.
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.
