2013 Domaine de la Janasse Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes

It is challenging to snapshot through words for a complex wine like Domaine de la Janasse Vieilles Vignes and its vintage 2013. This wine could be understood through tasting another pantheon of greats, such as Jacque Perrins, Vieux Telegraphe and Clos de la Jean. Then, of course, there is every seriousness and 'typicity'. Purple colour with tight, pink rim; purple flower bouquet(lavender, rose). On the nose, cinnamon-wrapped dried cranberry; minty and black peppery. On the palate, firm and structured tannin and full-bodied, with lingering tastes of cranberry, raspberry, nutmeg, liquorice, fig and blueberry and pomegranate reduction. Given our shortage of words, we can only add that it is poised and balanced, floral and savoury, luxurious and yet feminine. Minimum intervention in the field, as always; however, there is constant work and refinement behind this seeming inactivity. 2013 is less intense than 2012.

Vintage 2013 is a fresher wine compared to 2012- there is more Syrah to strengthen the structure of the wine; This is From 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, and 10% Mourvèdre; Raised in one-year-old big barrels and small barrels ( 25% to 40% new, French oak for 12 months)to add to complexity); Vines are 60 to 100 yeard-old and on clay-limestone soils that are full of the region's famous large pebbles absorbing heat from the sun during the day and keep vines warm at night, encouraging ripeness and intensity of flavour; Total production averages 850 cases per year only!

High scores and accolades. For example: 95 points Wine Spectator. Features ample stuffing, with lots of dark plum sauce, crushed cherry and warm blackberry confiture flavors forming the core. Melted black licorice, plum eau-de-vie and black tea notes fill in the background. Reveals a lovely echo of ganache at the very end. (JM) (11/2015). Not edited.

94 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

While the cuvée Chaupin comes mostly from sandy soils, the 2013 Châteauneuf du Pape Cuvée Vieilles Vignes comes more from the rolled pebble soils the region is famous for, and always shows the richer, more powerful profile imparted from these soils. Mostly foudre-aged Grenache, it incorporates 20% Mourvèdre and roughly 10% Syrah (slightly more Syrah in 2013) that’s raised all in barrel. Exhibiting a deep purple color, it offers fabulous dark berry fruits, licorice, Provençal herbs and earthy/stony minerality on the nose. (JD) (10/2015). Not Edited.