Wine Advisor
Roger Sabon, Chateauneuf du Pape Le Secret des Sabon 2017
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Josh Raynolds
Shimmering magenta. A vibrant, mineral-accented nose evokes ripe red berries, garrigue, incense and exotic spices. Juicy, focused and seamless in texture, showing impressive clarity and spicy lift to the sweet raspberry liqueur, cherry cola, spicecake and lavender pastille flavors. Silky, even tannins add shape and grip to an impressively long, sweet, floral-driven finish that shows outstanding focus and tension.
Reviewed by: Joe Czerwinski
Almost all Grenache from two old-vine parcels, the 2017 Chateauneuf du Pape le Secret de Sabon has morphed during its élevage in oak tank to reveal a darker side. While last year it was all red fruit and roses, this year it shows more plum, licorice, cola and cocoa. It remains wonderfully full-bodied yet light in feel, framed by firm tannins but also creamy and rich on the mid-palate, offering an array of conflicting sensations that emerge harmonious on the long finish. Tasted twice (once blind), with consistent notes.
Reviewed by: Joe Czerwinski
Nearly all Grenache—the grapes come from two old-vine parcels on sandier soils that have some other varieties mixed in—the 2017 Chateauneuf du Pape le Secret de Sabon flirts with perfection. It's full-bodied and concentrated, yet it remains light on its feet, with ethereally silky tannins. Notes of rose petals and red cherries are crystalline in their purity and clarity, showing great intensity and length on the gently cocoa-tinged finish. This special wine should drink well for a couple of decades.
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.
