Domaine de La Janasse Chaupin CdP 2020 (1.5L)

99 JD / 98 DE / 96 WCI / 96 FS / 95 VM / 16.5 JR

I was blown away by the 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape Chaupin, a 100% Grenache release that comes almost exclusively from the Chaupin lieu-dit in the northern part of the appellation. It's never as inky-hued or powerful as the Vieilles Vignes but always screams Grenache with its sexy, ripe, seamless, and remarkably elegant style. The 2020 offers a translucent ruby/purple hue as well as incredible aromatics of blackberries, black raspberries, peppery garrigue, herbes de Provence, and flowers, and it opens up nicely with time in the glass. Full-bodied and concentrated on the palate, it has silky tannins, no hard edges, and a great finish. I finished my note with "a Grenache lover's dream." This is up with the finest vintages produced and will evolve for 15+ years. - Jeb Dunnuck

Full-bodied, generous in fruit and glycerol. The tannins and acidity seem to meld together into a single vertebral column. The alcohol is present, lending sweetness rather than heat. Remarkably elegant for a wine of these dimensions, with great, rising, upright flavours and structure. This is a very special wine with a long finish. Parcels of Grenache planted on lieux-dits Chapouin, La Janasse and La Crau, the oldest planted in 1912. - Matt Walls, Decanter

Smoked kirsch, cherries, flowers, licorice and cocoa create the interesting nose. The palate offers richness, espresso tinged, dark cherries and cocoa with vibrancy, earthiness and energy with a touch of spice that kicks in on the backend. The wine is made using 100% old vine Grenache. Drink from 2023-2035.-Jeff Leve, Wine Cellar Insider

Strong garnet, purple reflections, ochre lightening on the rim. Dried rose petals, ripe red wild berries, some liquorice, some nougat in the background. Smooth, like velvet and silk, pleasant fruit expression, an absolutely seamless wine; harmonious, long and engaging. A pure Genache, grown on sandy soils in La Crau and Chapouin, the vines are 111 years old.-Falstaff

Shimmering pale-ruby. The 2020 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Chaupin checks in at 15.5% alcohol. It mixes fragrant aromas of raspberry jam, cooked strawberry, licorice, dried thyme, cured meat and bay leaves. Full-bodied, broad-shouldered and polished, the 2020 Chaupin is wrapped in plush tannins, concluding with a distinctively savory finish lasting well over a minute. In this vintage, the Chaupin outperforms the Vieilles Vignes.--NG, Vinous Media

Precise, firm, focused Châteauneuf. Bright, dark-cherry fruit. Fine-grained tannins and refined oak. A very classy combination of southern Rhône ripeness allied with brisk acidity and some intriguing floral, mineral notes to finish-Andy Howard MW, JancisRobinson