The producer
Domaine de la Janasse – founded by Aime Sabon in 1973 and named after one of the finer parcels of this domaine in the northern sector of the appellation – is today run by Aime’s children, the siblings Isabelle and Christophe.
Now with 18 hectares under vine in the commune of Courtezon in the northeast of the appellation and with a substantial portion in the prestigious ‘La Crau’ lieu-dit, this is a go-to name for top Chateauneuf-du-Pape. The vineyards are currently under conversion to organic farming and the Sabon’s are expecting certification in 2024.
The wines of Janasse show richness and depth with a fine tannic structure, finely textured wines that develop finesse in the bottle. The Vieille Vignes is a blend of Grenache with Syrah and Mourvedre while the ‘Cuvee Chaupin’ is 100% Grenache from vines dating back to 1912 predominantly from the ‘Chapouin’ lieu-dit.
1.5 hectares of vineyards are dedicated to 60 year-old white varieties, mostly Grenache Blanc with Clairette and Roussanne. Grenache Blanc and Clairette are tank-fermented while Roussanne is fermented in mostly new oak. The result is a rich and textured Chateauneuf-du-Pape Blanc of real class. We offer both red and white wine from Domaine de Janasse.
The wine
Cuvee Chaupin is produced from 100% Grenache from vines planted in 1912. The Chaupin vineyard plot is pure sandy soils in the north of the Chateauneuf commune, which gives a certain ethereal quality to the wine and unique fragrance. The majority of the wine is aged in foudres, with the remainder aged in the smaller demi-muids, of which a small percentage is new. Production is around 1,000 cases per year.
