Domaine de la Janasse Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes 2022

The icon of Châteauneuf-du-Pape is back with a 98 point, old-vine stunner for a whirly, swirly 37% off! Some of my all-time favorite Châteauneuf-du-Pape’s have been crafted here at this estate, and as ever, this one lives up to all the hype of listing in Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines of 2024!

Domaine de la Janasse is back with a spectacularly powerful 98 point 2022 vintage Vieilles Vignes! The 2022 season was an admitted challenge for the south of France, though Châteauneuf fared better than any other appellation, and the best estates came out with wines reaping silky tannins, moderate alcohol, and great acidity. A long-time legend such as Janasse knows how to turn lemons into lemonade, it seems – churning out this beast that’s easily made its way to the very top of the Janasse portfolio. Domaine de la Janasse is one of the world’s foremost champions of Grenache, not to mention one of Châteauneuf-du-Pape's greatest stars, and the Vieilles Vignes is everything you could hope for in a Châteauneuf-du-Pape's... it’s big, bold, and deep, with earth-shattering intensity and never-ending complexity.

The legendary Aimé Sabon started the estate in the ‘70s, handing it over to his children – who have continued to impress the critics, other Châteauneuf-du-Pape's estates, the whole of France, and even jaded wine slingers like us! They farm 90 hectares of the best vineyards, the oldest vines, and the most sensational juice in the land. Beginning in the early 1990s, the next generation took over. Christophe Sabon – Aimé's eldest son – came back from Beaune with degrees in viticulture, oenology, and marketing and was subsequently given control of the cellar. A decade later, his sister, Isabelle, graduated from the University of Toulouse – also with an oenology degree, and joined Chris in the cellar. Together they have only fortified the Sabon family name – and are without a doubt crafting some of the best wines in the estate’s storied history.

Roughly 75% Grenache, then 15% Mourvèdre, with 5% Syrah and a smattering of Châteauneuf’s other players – this is an old-vine gem that cannot be overlooked. Waves of cherry and raspberry and creamy licorice and crushed gravel and semisweet chocolate and garrigue and... and... This just goes on and on, with the utmost aging potential, though already drinkable with melty, integrated tannins. Decanter called it “Full, lush and powerful, with a wall of intense tannin,” as well as, “Huge concentration and huge intensity, in many ways this fits the Châteauneuf archetype of statuesque wines for very long ageing.” We couldn’t say it better! Read the myriad glowing reviews below, then grab a bottle or three to set yourself up for rockstar Rhone drinking for the next two decades!

PAIRING IDEAS: Go with a classic and hearty beef stew with a hunk of crusty bread – the ultimate stick-to-your-ribs bowl of goodness to live up to this beastly Châteauneuf-du-Pape!