Domaine De La Janasse Chaupin CdP 2018 (1.5L)

95 WA / 95 WS / 94 JS / 94 JD / 93 VM / 17 JR

As usual, the 2018 Chateauneuf du Pape Chaupin displays more red fruit than the main bottling, being 100% Grenache from sandier soils. Raspberries and cherries appear on the nose alongside subtle hints of garrigue. The full-bodied palate is almost airy in feel, supported by a latticework of silky tannins and bright acids, while simultaneously adding bass notes of dark chocolate and licorice that linger on the finish. It's an impressive effort.-Joe Czerwinski, The Wine Advocate

This bursts forth with delicious crushed plum, cherry puree and raspberry coulis notes that stretch out slowly through the lengthy, anise- and black tea–infused finish. Not shy with its fruit, but this has more than enough energy and detail for balance. Best from 2021 through 2038. 504 cases imported.-James Molesworth, Wine Spectator

This is one of the best wines of the vintage. It has a vinous finesse to the aromatics, full-bodied, very smooth and generous. It very much displays a pure Grenache style, with a great finesse to the tannins and purity of fruit. Voluminous and silky - a lovely superfine tannic weave, like satin, with an inner sucrosité, and the acidity is well balanced. Long, tapered finish. Drink it young in its finesse, or wait. Partially destemmed pure Grenache planted on lieux-dits Chapouin, La Janasse and La Crau, the oldest planted in 1912. - Matt Walls, Decanter

Another wine that displays the vintage profile, the 2018 Châteauneuf Du Pape Cuvée Chaupin reveals a translucent medium ruby color as well as pure Grenache notes of kirsch and strawberry fruits intermixed with lots of white pepper, Provençal garrigue, and toasted spice-like aromas and flavors. Playing in the medium to full-bodied end of the spectrum, it has a seamless texture, plenty of mid-palate depth, and a great finish. I’m inclined to recommend drinking this in its first decade of life, but I do love its balance and it has ripe tannins, so I expect it will actually evolve gracefully for a solid 15 years or more. It’s a pretty, elegant, classy wine that I would be thrilled to drink.-Jeb Dunnuck

Brilliant ruby. A highly expressive bouquet evokes Chambord, cherry cola, smoky minerals and licorice, and a floral note builds as the wine opens up. Sappy, penetrating and energetic in style, offering palate-staining raspberry, cherry pie and lavender pastille flavors that put on weight and become spicier with air. Delivers a suave blend of richness and finesse and finishes spicy, focused and very long, leaving repeating floral and red fruit notes behind.-Josh Raynolds, Vinous Media

Tasted blind. Fresh red fruit on the nose, multi-layered spices on the palate providing complexity, and some burnt sugar notes on the finish, like chewy crème caramel topping. Interesting and complex, with good persistence.-Richard Hemming MW, JancisRobinson