Today we have another offering from the Rhone Valley featuring one of the area's superstar's Domaine de la Janasse. This property has risen to stardom during the last decade. In the 1990's the domaine made excellent wines and were staged to become one of the elite producers in the southern rhone. During this decade they have proven to be one of the most consistent producers with the entire portfolio rising to the top each wine made at the property is now among the best in its category, including the single vineyard Cotes du Rhone which rival anything produced under this title.

This has made the wines of Janasse consistently among the most sought after vintage after vintage, leaving us with only a few cases of each wine available for the newly 2010 vintage. This year is being touted as one of the greatest vintages from this region that we have experienced in our lifetime, but they have had a slew of great vintages in the Southern Rhone over the last decade. The 2009 vintage producing forward and seductive wines with less structure than 2007 or 2010 but for the most part outstanding wines, 2008 also has been dubbed forward and maybe not as rich and complex as the 2009's but very good. And then there is the vintage of the century 2007 but you can find some very good values in the 2006 vintage. Then another blockbuster year that still needs a bit of time the classic and tannic 2005's.

But make no mistake the wines of Domaine de la Janasse are GERAT every year and along with the current releases from this property we have a nice supply of older vintage wines that are still available here from our stash at the shop.

In the theatrical sense, Domaine de la Janasse had been "une mise en scene" or a production long admired by Europeans for their opulence, depth and precision.

The traditionaly-minded Aime Sabon created this estate in 1976. His young and very talented son, Christophe, who joined his father in 1991, has taken the property to a distinct and new level, as he himself has quickly risen to superstar status.

While Aime Sabon works in the multiple parcels of their organically farmed vineyards, Christophe puts his extensive training to work with innovative twits to many standard practises. The results continue to be wide range of lavishly ripe, extracted Chateauneuf-du-Pape whose core combines balance, complexity and finesse - often a contradiction to an appellation better know for exuberance, power and gustiness.

The Domaine consists of 40 hectares of land carved into as many as 60 different parcels of vines spread throughout the appellations. Historically, there are 13 approved grape varieties for Chateauneuf-du-Pape, allowing for an enormous range of styles, and by far, Grenache still represents 75% of the 3200 hectares planted. A prevailing controversy exists among the better growers; some have begun increasing percentage of Syrah and Mourvedre in their blends. Christophe Sabon manages Grenache by avoiding the rusticity and a high alcohol finish, which Grenache can produce, by meticulous alteration in the vineyards and cellar.

In Chateauneuf, the vines are planted on many types of soil; stones on the Vieux Telegraphe plateau; sand at La Crau, and clay/sand/loam in the Beaucastel area. Christophe Sabon does a routine green harvest for riper fruit across the board, to maintain low yields especially so for Grenache. His Cotes du Rhone, Les Garrigues is from the same low yielding Grenache found on similar soil as in Chateauneuf.

For the reds, Sabon does a partial destemming; Fermentation lasts 18-25 days and can go as high as 35 days. Chateauneuf spend 9-18 months in foudre, then up to one year in small barrel. For the white wines, 40% of Roussanne stays in new and older wood for 6-7 months. Clairette and Grenache Blanc contributes 30% to the blend.

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