Roger Sabon

Southern Rhone, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
http://www.roger-sabon.com
Wine Maker: Didier Negron
Long regarded as a reference point for this magnificent appellation of world renown, Roger Sabon is a great source of traditional Châteauneuf-du-Pape where the expression of fruit and terroir is everything and oak is treated with caution. Sabon makes wines of concentration, flesh and finesse utilising 70 year old foudrés for elevage and second use barriques.
Sabon's Châteauneuf's typically benefit from medium term cellaring, from four years for the 'Olivets' up to ten years for the 'Prestige' and 'Secret'.
In exceptional vintages such as 2001, 2003 and 2004, Sabon produces the exclusive and expensive ‘Le Secret Des Sabon’ which is a hedonistic and extraordinary wine, not to mention very rare; less than 1000 bottles were produced.
“One of the irrefutable reference point estates of Châteauneuf du Pape for traditionally made wines. There are four cuvées of Châteauneuf du Pape produced, although admittedly the 150 or so cases of the Le Secret de Sabon are virtually impossible to find, which is rather sad given that it is one of the greatest wines produced in the world. The 2004s are a success at Sabon, and my instincts suggest they are probably superior to the 2003s and the best vintage Sabon has turned out since 1998 and 2001.” Robert Parker Jnr.
“Proprietor Jean-Jacques Sabon and the other younger family members are taking these wines to even greater quality heights than previously attained. The new vintages possess updated, more polished labels, but more importantly, the wines continue to go from what were very strong efforts in the past, to even deeper concentration, complexity and depth. All four cuvees are now routinely outstanding, with the top two offerings, the Cuvee Prestige and the limited production Le Secret des Sabon, compelling Chateauneufs. As with many estates, the 2007s exhibit the vintage’s succulent, juicy, incredibly pure fruit and tremendous freshness and vivacity, all packed into substantial, full-bodied wines with surprisingly high alcohols given their vibrancy. One might expect such greatness in 2007 in Châteauneuf du Pape, but the Sabon’s have also hit the heights in the excellent 2006 vintage.” Robert Parker Jnr.

Wine Available

2006 Châteauneuf-du-Pape 'Les Olivets' 90 Tanzer / 90 Wine Spectator / 90 RP Jnr.
The 2006 Olivets with its brilliant robe and intense and ripe bouquet of macerated raspberry and anise is very attractive; the palate is medium-bodied with raspberry flavored fruit, dried herbs and a soft fleshy mouth feel. A classy velvety fresh Chateauneuf du Pape. 14% alc. 80/20 foudrés/barrique (no new).

2006 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, ‘Cuvee Reservée’ 91 Robert Parker Jnr / 92 Wine Spectator
60 yo vines. The 2006 Réservée with its slightly darker color shows more complexity with the earthy dried herb and introduction of tar ramping up the scale. The silky and richly black fruited palate is densely packed with dark fruit flavors, anise and tar and exotic herbs. A powerful and fleshy wine which has a very fine long finish. 2/3 foudrés, 1/3 barrique (no new).

2006 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, ‘Cuvee Prestige’ - aslo in Magnum! 93 Robert Parker Jnr / 93 Wine Spectator
From some of the oldest vines on the estate, they are eighty years old. Explosive with massive black berry intensity, tar, anise and some hints of prune. For a wine of such ripeness and power the palate is amazing for its freshness; it follows that the flavor zone is in the blue berry and black berry zone, there’s more tannin in this cuvee although it shares a similarly velvety structure to the Olivet and Réservée. This is nothing short of brilliant, deserving of a dozen years in the cellar. 2/3 foudrés, 1/3 barrique (no new).

2006 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, ‘Le Secret Des Sabon’
'Gorgeous kirsch and mocha aromas lead the way for this silky, alluring version, loaded with raspberry ganache, fruitcake, melted red licorice and graphite notes. The long, silky finish has nice latent grip and buried minerality. Best from 2009 through 2028. 94/100 ' JM Wine Spectator
'An extremely limited cuvee of around 2,000 bottles, the Chateauneuf du Pape Le Secret du Sabon is, year in and year out, one of the top ten Chateauneuf du Papes produced. From vines well over 100 years old, mostly from the sector of Chateauneuf du Pape known as La Crau, Jean-Jacques Sabon is not sure what the actual blend is, although it is mostly Grenache, because at the time of the original planting it was common practice to mix in many different varietals. The 2006 Chateauneuf du Pape Le Secret du Sabon, which was aged in a combination of new and older oak casks, has an inky bluish/purple color and a gorgeous nose of burning embers, blackberry, roasted meat juices, Provencal herbs, licorice, camphor, and graphite. The wine is dense and remarkably concentrated for a 2006, as well as quite opulent, fleshy and long. It will need 4-5 years of cellaring as it has copious tannins, which is almost atypical for a 2006. This wine has at least 25 years of aging potential. One might think that four separate cuvees of Chateauneuf du Pape is a bit much, but Jean-Jacques Sabon and his family continue to provide reference point wines at all different levels, as this is one of the top estates in Chateauneuf du Pape. Both 2006 and 2005 have turned out very well at this estate, with the 2006s softer and more fruit-forward than the 2005s, which are massive, bigger wines, especially at the top end for the Prestige and Le Secret. 96/100' Robert Parker Jnr.