Domaine de La Janasse
In 1967, Aimé Sabon returned from his military service. He took over his father’s vineyards. He brought his grapes to the cooperative winery, and his father-in-law sold the wine. In 1973, Aimé built his own winery. And so Domaine de la Janasse was born, named after the family farm in Courthézon, at a place called “La Janasse”.
Aimé is ambitious. Aware that he owned a fabulous terroir, he continued to expand the estate by acquiring new plots. La Janasse has grown from 15 hectares to 90 hectares.
The next generation
In 1991, after obtaining a BTA in viticulture and oenology in Beaune and a BTS in marketing in Mâcon, Christophe Sabon joined his father, who left him direct control of the winery.
Under his impetus, La Janasse now boasts a number of different vintages, conquering new markets and making a lasting mark on the times.
In 2001, Christophe’s sister Isabelle, an oenologist with a degree from Toulouse University, joined the team. With Aimé’s wife Hélène, Christophe and Isabelle’s mother, the family was reunited at La Janasse, which in just a few years became one of the jewels in the crown of Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
Janasse Chateauneuf du Pape Red
Grape varieties: 65% old Grenache, 20% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre, 5% Cinsault
Age of vines: 40 years on average
Terroir: sand, pebbles, red clay
Destemming: 80% of bunches are destemmed
Yield: 25-30 hl
Aging: 80% in foudres and 20% in barrels (1/3 new), for 12 months
Press awards: Rated 95/100 in 2010 and 2016 by Jeb Dunnuck
Janasse Châteauneuf du Pape Blanc
Grape varieties: 60% Grenache, 20% Clairette, 20% Roussanne.
Age of vines: 50 years on average
Terroir: On sandy-clay soils in the localities of La Janasse and La Crau.
Destemming: The bunches are destemmed.
Yield: 25-30 hl
Ageing: On lees, in vats for the grenaches and clairettes and in barrels (3/4 of which are new wood) with stirring for the roussannes, for 7 months.
Press awards: Rated 94/100 in 2011, 2016 and 2019 by Jeb Dunnuck
Janasse "Cuvée Chaupin"
Grape varieties: 100% Grenache. The oldest vines were planted in 1912.
Age of vines: 80 years on average
Terroir: This cuvée comes from the cool, late-ripening terroirs of Chapouin (sand), La Janasse and the La Crau plateau (sand).
Destemming: 80% of the bunches are destemmed.
Yield: 28 hl
Aging: 2/3 in foudres and 1/3 in demi-muids (600 liters), for 12 months
Press awards: Rated 99/100 in 2016 by Jeb Dunnuck
Janasse "Cuvée Vieilles Vignes"
Grape varieties : 65% Grenache, 20% Mourvèdre, 10% Syrah, 5% various
Age of vines : Centenarians
Terroir: rolled pebbles bring fatness and power; sands for freshness and acidity; red clays covered with rolled pebbles bring structure and body; and finally a sandy-limestone hillside gives finesse.
Destemming: 80% of the bunches are destemmed.
Yield: 28 hl
Aging: 3/4 in foudres and 1/4 in demi-muids (600 liters), for 12 months
Press awards: Rated 99/100 in 2007, 2010 and 2016 by Jeb Dunnuck