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In the early 20th century, Seraphin Sabon married Marie Jausset, daughter of Romain and Marie-Angelie Brunel, where after he expanded his wife’s family business – which dates back to 1560. Marie had three sons – one of which is Roger Sabon, who founded Domaine Roger Sabon in the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation.  Roger expanded the business, by investing with his sons, Jean-Jacques, Denis & Gilbert and since 2001 vinification is in the care of Didier Négron, the son-in-law of Jean-Jacques Sabon.

The wines of Domaine Roger Sabon are the fruit of an intimate dialogue between the winemaker and each portion of the land. Didier and Jean-Jacques maintain the old traditions and alchemy of the wine cellar revealing the secrets and subtle potentialities of the vines. Their wine-making involves a century-old “savoir faire” that preserves and expresses the different aromatic nuances of each variety of grape and Didier is proud to build on this legacy.

The vineyards of the Domaine are split into small parcels on some of the best sites of the Châteauneuf-du-Pape territory.  We had the privilege of visiting this remarkable Domaine last year during our annual European wine tour and were astonished at the purity and elegance of these ethereal Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines.

While planning for our upcoming Châteauneuf-du-Pape Gourmet Wine Tasting Event, it was an obvious choice that Domaine Roger Sabon will be a prominent feature as this is one of the superstars of the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation. From a 100 year old plot producing only 15 hectolitres per hectare, the Cuvée Prestige scored an astonishing 92/100 from renowned wine critic, Robert Parker, for the 2008 vintage. “A real star! Almost an anomaly in this Châteauneuf-du-Pape vintage, it should drink well for a decade. Bravo!”

Cultivar:  60% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 10% Mourvédrè and 15% Terret Noir, Cinsault, Counoise, Vaccarese and Muscardin from 90+ year old vines.

Winemaker:  Didier Négron.

Ullage:  No ullage visible.

Cork:  Perfect condition.

Color:  Good medium ruby red color with a light rim.

Bouquet:  Loads of red fruit and berry aromas are evident on the nose, with a distinct hint of cherry liqueur chocolates and freshly cut biltong. Some herbal nuances of rosemary, black currants, sweet cherries and charcoal appear as this beauty just keeps evolving in the glass.

Palate:  Medium to full-bodied, this is smooth and elegant but the firm tannin structure hints toward more ageing to mellow out the wine.  Red fruit flavours with a delicate undertone of pepper in the lingering aftertaste.

Food Pairing:  We recommend keeping this wine for another 3-4 years before opening and it will keep for another 8 – 10 years. Decant 1-2 hours before serving.

Score:  90/100

Santé!

Germain