Wine Advisor
Roger Sabon, Chateauneuf du Pape Le Secret des Sabon 2015
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Josh Raynolds
Lurid ruby-red. Exotic, highly perfumed aromas of candied red and blue fruits, incense and peppery spices slowly take on a hint of potpourri. Fleshy and seamless on the palate, offering raspberry and cherry liqueur and floral pastille flavors and a spicy hint of white pepper. Shows outstanding clarity and power on the impressively long finish, which is framed by suave, slow-building tannins.
Reviewed by: Joe Czerwinski
There are only 250 cases of the 2015 Chateauneuf du Pape le Secret de Sabon, but it will be worth the hunt. Super ripe Grenache shows hints of chocolaty richness but remains lively and herbal, while delivering a creamy mouthfeel and long, supple finish loaded with spice complexities. As it comes close to exceeding my ripeness limits, I'd opt for drinking it over the near term before it drops fruit at an alarming rate.
Reviewed by: Jeb Dunnuck
The smallest production cuvée is the 2015 Châteauneuf du Pape Le Secret des Sabon, which is a field blend of primarily Grenache that’s brought up all in oak tanks. It sports a deep ruby color, full body, terrific Grenache notes of black raspberries, scorched earth, currants and roasted herbs, sweet tannin and a killer finish. It’s more streamlined and elegant than the 2007 or 2010, but should surpass the 2009, which seems to be on a fast evolutionary track.
Reviewed by: Jeb Dunnuck
There are only 250 cases of the 2015 Chateauneuf du Pape le Secret de Sabon, but it will be worth the hunt. Super ripe Grenache shows hints of chocolaty richness but remains lively and herbal, while delivering a creamy mouthfeel and long, supple finish loaded with spice complexities. As it comes close to exceeding my ripeness limits, I'd opt for drinking it over the near term before it drops fruit at an alarming rate.
About the Producer
Our family estate was founded in 1952 by Roger SABON. After several generations, the estate has reached a total surface of 50 hectares split up on both sides of the Rhône. 18 hectares belong to the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation, on the left bank of the River, and spread over 14 different plots. On the right bank, the vineyard includes 12 hectares in the Lirac appellation, 6 hectares of Côtes-du-Rhône and 14 hectares of Vin de France. This diversity allows us to develop and offer our customers a wide choice of wines with varied profiles White wines represent around 5% of the total production. Grapes are hand harvested, placed into boxes and undergo a light pneumatic pressing. The juices obtained are then protected from the oxidation phenomena in order to preserve the aromatic potential. Our “Vins de France” will then ferment in stainless steel vats, whereas our Châteauneuf-du-Pape blanc will ferment in 25 hl wooden tanks. The fermentation temperature is regulated around 16 ° C. Vinification of red wine is characterized, for our entire wine range, by a long period of maceration of the grapes in vats, associated with a relatively gentle extraction. Destemming – the removal of the vegetal part of the bunch- is required here in order to prevent any problem during maceration.
