Domaine de La Janasse

Neighbors of Château de Beaucastel in Courthézon, this domaine was founded in 1967, an excellent year for the region, by Aimé Sabon. It is named after Châteauneuf's most northerly lieu-dit or vineyard sub-area. Like many producers in the region, he sold all of his wine to a co-operative, in his case, the Cellier des Prince Cooperative, before bottling his own wine in 1973. Today, the domaine is run by his son, Christophe who took over in 1990 after carrying out enology studies at the Lycée Viticole de Beaune. His sister, Isabelle, who studied oenology in Bordeaux, works with him. They produce three red Châteauneuf-du-Papes which include the Cuvée Tradition, their main wine, Cuvée Chaupin, a 100% old vine Grenache cuvée (60-80+ year old vines) and Cuvée Vieilles Vignes, a more typical Châteauneuf blend from 60-100+ year old vines. Robert Parker, an avid fan described the domaine stated, “What this family operation has achieved over the last decade is nothing short of remarkable considering the breadth of wines made, from their Vin de Pays, which are among the finest made in France, to their world-class Côtes du Rhônes and Châteauneuf du Papes. While this estate is at the top of its game, it is not content to rest on the status quo and continues to push the envelope."