Châteauneuf du Pape Cuvée Prestige Roger Sabon 2021

Description

A well-known name in Chateauneuf-du-Pape with a strong international reputation. The Domaine has vineyards on the classic pudding stone soils of the region (galets roulés) which are a major reason for their flamboyant styling and power. After tasting the entire range of wines, including the top wine, we felt that the Cuvée Prestige offered the best overall value and quality at a very reasonable price.

It is a family-run business that was established in 1952 by Roger Sabon. Today the estate is composed of an 18 ha vineyard on the eastern bank of the Rhône river in the Châteauneuf du Pape appellation scattered on 14 different plots. On the western bank, the vineyard includes 12 ha in the Lirac appellation, 6 ha in CDR and 14 in VDF. 

Made from vines over 50 years old, this showed the perfume of the vintage that shows the year at its best, when some other wines demonstrated a bit of heat and dominant alcohol. A blend of Grenache (70%), Syrah (15%), Mourvedre (10%) and the balance a mix of white and red grapes including Muscardin, Terret, Vaccarèse and some very old Counoise. Winemaking uses a very long maceration of one month and maturation in old and very large oak vats (2,500-4,000L) which provide a gentle and careful environment for ageing largely in the absence of oxygen. Layers of aromas of red and black fruits, olive tapenade, wild herbs, spices and fresh strawberry flow onto a similarly layered and fresh palate. I’d drink this anytime over the next 8 years.

A sumptuous Châteauneuf-du-Pape from Roger Sabon (2021 vintage).This is a superb example of a high-end Châteauneuf-du-Pape exhibiting balance, depth of flavour and long length on the palate.The cuvée Prestige is a blend of Grenache (70%), Syrah (15%), Mourvedre (10%) and the balance features a mix of several white and red grapes allowed in the appellation. On the nose, we are immediately met with an intriguing bouquet of fleshy red and black fruits, lightly infused with a whiff of provençal herbs and pepper. The fruit on the palate is dense, mainly blackberries and black cherries predominating, with beautiful, meaty concentration, and velvety tannins. There’s a touch of spice, but it remains discreetly the background. The finish lingers on the palate for a pleasantly long, long, time!! Chucri Chelhot