2007 Domaine de la Janasse Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée XXL Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rhône France Wine Tasting Note

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2007 Domaine de la Janasse Cuvée XXL  (Châteauneuf-du-Pape) 99 Even better than when I last tasted this about a year ago, this is mind blowing juice in every sense of the word! There is so much ripe fruit here, it coats your teeth, mouth and gums. This is no shy sister here. The juice is pure liqueur of Grenache! What makes this wine a stunner is that even though the level of concentration is almost off the charts, everything is in balance. The finish must last for at least 60 seconds. It's not exactly graceful, or elegant, but it's a beautiful, memorable expression of 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape. Less than 5 barrels were produced, so it is going to be hard to find over the coming years. Even better than when I last tasted this about a year ago, this is mind blowing juice in every sense of the word! There is so much ripe fruit here, it coats your teeth, mouth and gums. This is no shy sister here. The juice is pure liqueur of Grenache! What makes this wine a stunner is that even though the level of concentration is almost off the charts, everything is in balance. The finish must last for at least 60 seconds. It's not exactly graceful, or elegant, but it's a beautiful, memorable expression of 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape. Less than 5 barrels were produced, so it is going to be hard to find over the coming years. 3,790 Views   Tasted Nov 9, 2016  • Buy This Wine For The Lowest Price DOWNLOAD TASTING NOTE | Post to I never thought I'd taste a bottle of this bad boy. When I heard this was coming to the same dinner I was, I was already salivating. Deep in color, the wine is pure intensity in every sense of the word. The fruits were ripe, very ripe and overripe. Sweet, jammy, lush and powerful, yet balanced. There is a fig and raisin component that some tasters will not like. And if I was being critical, there was a touch heat in the 16.5% finish. But who cares? There was this incredible wealth of fruit that coats your palate, stains your teeth and makes you smile! I never thought I'd taste a bottle of this bad boy. When I heard this was coming to the same dinner I was, I was already salivating. Deep in color, the wine is pure intensity in every sense of the word. The fruits were ripe, very ripe and overripe. Sweet, jammy, lush and powerful, yet balanced. There is a fig and raisin component that some tasters will not like. And if I was being critical, there was a touch heat in the 16.5% finish. But who cares? There was this incredible wealth of fruit that coats your palate, stains your teeth and makes you smile! 4,455 Views   Tasted Feb 10, 2015

When to Drink Domaine Janasse, Anticipated Maturity, Decanting Time

Domaine Janasse is best when the wine is decanted for about 1-2 hours. This allows the wine to soften and open its perfume. Older vintages might need very little decanting, just enough to remove the sediment.

Domaine Janasse is usually better with 4-6 years of bottle age. Of course that can vary slightly, depending on the vintage. In the best vintages the wine should be consumed within 4-18 years after the vintage.

Serving Domaine Janasse with Wine, Food Pairing Tips

Domaine Janasse is best served at 15.5 degrees Celsius, 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The cool, almost cellar temperature gives the wine more freshness and lift.

Domaine Janasse is best served with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted, braised, stewed dishes, sausage, barbecue and cassoulet. Domaine Janasse is also good with Asian dishes, hearty fish courses like tuna, mushrooms pasta, eggplant, cheese and tomatoes.

The white wine of Domaine Janasse is best served with a myriad of different seafood dishes, shellfish, crab, lobster, sushi, sashimi, chicken, pork and veal, as well as Asian cuisine.

If you're at Domaine Janasse, here is a little secret for you. Janasse also produces a very small amount of a Vin de Paille that is only sold at the property. It's a fun dessert wine that's worth purchasing. I wish I had purchased more. Oh well... there's always next time.

The Sabon family also owns an additional 40 hectares of vines in the Cotes du Rhone appellation where they produce 3 red Cotes du Rhone and 1 white Cotes du Rhone wine, along with red and white IGP wines.

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