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Cépages : 70% Roussanne, 15% Grenache (de plus de 60 ans), 15%
Clairette (de plus de 60 ans) . Elevage 100% en barriques (de 1 à 3
vins) avec batonnage durant 14 mois.
900 à 1 200 bouteilles par an
PARKER 94
There are fewer than 100 cases of the 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc
Cuvee Prestige, a barrel-fermented blend of 70% Roussanne and 30% white
Grenache. Its light gold color is followed by grand cru white
Burgundy-like notes of buttered citrus, honeysuckle, peaches, ripe
pears, and brioche. I have no idea how long this beautiful white will
last, but it is irresistible now, and is probably best drunk over the
next 2-3 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.
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