The Châteauneuf du Pape Beauties of Domaine de la Janasse

(page 2 of 2)

94 points
2005 Châteauneuf du Pape Chaupin

A 100% grenache cuvée from sandy and clay soils, the 2005 Châteauneuf du Pape Chaupin has a deep ruby/purple color and a sweet nose of smoked meats and game, blackberry, and cassis fruit intermixed with some sweet cherry, plum, and a hint of fig. The wine boasts some charcoal notes, plenty of ocean sea breeze, and a hint of seaweed wrapper (nori) with a long, heady, stunningly rich finish. This is a beauty, but it really needs two to three years of cellaring but should keep for two decades. $60

95 points
2006 Châteauneuf du Pape Chaupin

The 2006 Châteauneuf du Pape Chaupin (18,000 bottle produced) is brilliant. Made from 100% grenache from sandy and clay soils, the wine shows a stunning purity of licorice-infused black raspberry and black cherry notes, good, firm tannins, and stunning richness in an opulent, hedonistic style. The wine is a classic example of old-vine grenache and of Provence. This full-bodied, powerful wine, which has no hard edges, should drink beautifully for at least 15 or more years. $60

96 points
2006 Châteauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes

The 2006 Châteauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes (88% grenache, 7% mourvèdre, and 5% syrah, with only 5,000 bottles produced) is one of the vintage's most profound wines. Inky ruby/purple to the rim, with a nose of incense, melted licorice, asphalt, blackberry, and blueberry with a hint of pain grillé, the wine is exceptionally powerful, rich, concentrated, and harmonious, with high but sweet tannins, low acidity, and a spectacular finish of close to 50+ seconds. It is much more approachable than the 2005, but give it four to five years of bottle age and drink it over the following 25 years. The 2006 will undeniably be a vintage to buy across the board at Domaine de la Janasse. $110

98 points
2005 Châteauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes

Absolutely profound, and certainly one of the vintage's great wines is the 2005 Châteauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes. Inky plum/ruby/purple to the rim, with a big, sweet nose of melted licorice, smoked meats, blackberries, cassis, and earth, the wine is deep, powerful, full-bodied, with fabulous concentration, purity, and a multi-dimensional mouthfeel. The finish goes on for close to a minute. Forget this wine for two to five years, and drink it over the following 25+ years. $95-$125

Robert Parker is the world's most influential wine critic. Visit www.eRobertParker.com to see tens of thousands of tasting notes, buy his books, or subscribe to his newsletter, The Wine Advocate.