Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Domaine de la Janasse 2007

All four 2007 Chateauneuf du Papes, including the unbottled new cuvee, are absolutely brilliant efforts. A true sleeper of the vintage, and a wine to buy by the case given its reasonable price is the 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape. This blend of 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah and Mourvedre from 40-year-old vines was aged 80% in tank and the rest in small oak. Its dense purple color is accompanied by sweet aromas of creme de cassis, kirsch, incense, spice box, and a touch of toast. Deep and multidimensional with huge glycerin, great acids, and sweet tannins, this massive 2007 is accessible now, and should last for 15-20+ years.

Plush, with delicious purity to the crushed plum, macerated currantand warm fig flavors. Dark and racy through the finish, with amouthwatering graphite edge. Superlong and precise. Drink nowthrough 2019.

The 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape is Sabon's finest example of this cuvee I have yet tasted. It boasts a fabulous blue/purple color as well as a gorgeous nose of creme de cassis, kirsch, licorice, incense, and spice. Deep, full-bodied, and multilayered with excellent purity, depth, and length, it should drink beautifully for 20 years.Young Christophe Sabon, with his sister by his side and his father in the background, is doing as great a job turning out terrific wines as any vigneron in the world. With nearly 200 acres of vineyards, 45 of them old vines situated in Chateauneuf du Pape, there is enormous potential, all of it being exploited. The 1998s, 1999s, 2000s, and 2001s were all fabulous at this estate, the 2003s were slightly irregular as well as tannic, the 2005s were great, the 2006s are fabulous, and the 2007s may be the sine qua non of all his vintages. The white wines are not to be missed as they are some of the freshest, most perfumed, lively whites of Southern France. The value picks represent remarkable bargains. The bottled 2006 low end wines are all in the marketplace. While they are not quite at the level of the 2007s, there are some gorgeous choices for consumers. Janasse's 2007 Chateauneuf du Papes are outrageous, all of which performed brilliantly despite having just completed their malolactics after 11 months of fermentation. With all of the excitement over the 2007s, readers should not forget just how great Janasse's 2006s have turned out. They are performing as well as they did last year, perhaps even better.