Enclave Vinothèque - Des Meilleurs aux Plus Rares PARTICULIERS

Des vendanges très saines suite à un été exceptionnellement sec et venté. Avec seulement 35 mm de précipitations cumulées entre le 16 juin et le 15 septembre, on peut affirmer qu à Châteauneuf-du-Pape l été 2007 a été exceptionnellement sec. Selon les agro météorologues du Cirame de Carpentras, il s agit même du plus sec de ces vingt dernières années, la normale s établissant à 161 mm (station météo d?Orange). Les pluies des 16 et 18 septembre (environ 20 mm) ont donc été les bienvenues, leur faiblesse n ayant eu aucune conséquence sur le bon déroulement des vendanges. L été 2007 a aussi été sensiblement plus venté que la normale (20 jours de fort Mistral entre le 1er juillet et le 15 septembre) et légèrement excédentaire au niveau de l ensoleillement saisonnier (1.157 h contre 1.145 h en moyenne). L été 2007 a donc été particulièrement favorable à l obtention d une vendange de qualité, saine, dotée de bons équilibres aromatiques et de belles couleurs. Source : Domaine de la Janasse Note Parker : 98/100 - To be bottled in February, 2010, the 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape XXL is a blend of 95% Grenache and 5% Mourvedre. It reminds me of what Henri Bonneau’s utterly perfect 1990 Chateauneuf du Pape Reserve des Celestins tasted like at two years of age. It has all the characteristics of the Janasse Vieilles Vignes in addition to a slightly later harvest and riper character. It gives the impression of having residual sweetness, but that is not the case as the appellation of Chateauneuf du Pape will declassify any wine with more than 0.3 grams per liter of residual sugar. The glycerin level is high, and the alcohol content must be around 16.5% as this offering is incredibly massive, rich, and obviously meant for long-term aging. I can’t wait to taste it out of bottle. There are only two demi-muids, which works out to about 2,000 bottles, so the lucky few who have an opportunity to purchase it, should not pass it up. Always one of my favorite stops on my Rhone Valley trips, Domaine de la Janasse is run with incredible passion by Christophe Sabon, his sister Isabelle, and his father, who showed up nearly half naked as he was bringing in some white grapes on the torridly hot day I visited. 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 Cotes du Rhones and Chateauneuf 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. Their 2008s are among the finest wines of the vintage, and as the following tasting notes and scores indicate, their 2007s are out of this world. The 2008 reds are surprisingly strong across the board at Domaine de la Janasse. There is no Cotes du Rhone Les Garrigues or Chateauneuf du Pape Chaupin in this vintage, but the other cuvees are all noteworthy. 2007 is the greatest vintage I have ever tasted of Domaine de la Janasse - and that’s says something given the amazing wines produced here in 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005, and 2006. Source : R Parker