Wine Advisor
Roger Sabon, Chateauneuf Du Pape Reserve 2012
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Jeb Dunnuck
The 2012 Châteauneuf du Pape Reserve is knockout stuff. Full-bodied, textured and yet still elegant and finesse-oriented, it gives up tons of ground pepper, spice, new leather and black cherry nuances. Made from 80% Grenache and 10% each of Syrah and Mourvèdre, it has excellent concentration, mouth-filling levels of fruit and a big finish. Drink this beauty over the coming decade.
Reviewed by: Jeb Dunnuck
A similar blend, yet with Mourvèdre in place of the Cinsault (80% Grenache, 10% Syrah and 10% Mourvèdre), Sabon’s 2012 Chateauneuf du Pape Reserve is a focused, structured effort that exhibits ample dried herbs, garrigue, leather and darker berry-styled fruit, with a slightly dry, savory character. Showing ample fruit on the palate however, with chewy, ripe tannin and solid mid-palate depth, it should round into form once bottled. Give it a couple years and plan on drinking bottles through 2024. A fantastic estate that covers close to 44 acres throughout the appellation, Domaine Roger Sabon was created by Roger Sabon in 1952. The estate was taken over by Roger’s sons (Jean-Jacques, Denis and Gilbert) in 1976, and since 2001, the wines are made by Didier Negron, who is Jean-Jacques’ stepson. The estate produces upward of four red Chateauneufs in a given vintage and one white. In addition, they release a solid Cotes du Rhone and Lirac.
Reviewed by: Josh Raynolds
Inky ruby. Sexy, high-pitched aromas of fresh red berries, potpourri and star anise show a hint of smokiness. Silky and expansive on the palate, offering intense raspberry and bitter cherry flavors and a strong suggestion of candied rose. Supple tannins meld smoothly with the wine's fruit on the incisive finish, which hangs on with very good tenacity and echoing floral character.
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.
