Sooooo....the hype surrounding the 2007 vintage in the Rhone is pretty much out of control at this point - and a good deal of the hype is focused on the outstanting producers found in Charlottean Eric Solomon's portfolio. We are now here to offer you an opportunity to buy these gems on a pre-sale basis at the LOWEST price in the US. While we have not tasted these wines (we almost cannot wait!) we have included tasting notes from wine writer Robert Parker. As you know, here at winestore we don't beleive in the point based scoring system so if you really want to know how crazy the hype is you can try to hunt down the insane scores for these bad boys.
The wine is scheduled to arrive at the end of July - due to the LIMITED quantities available (for some of these there are only 30 bottles available for the entire State of NC) payment is required in full to reserve your wines. We expect our allocation of these wines to sell out today.
Should you be interested in any of the below please call us at 704-442-4024 or e-mail us here with your order!
Happy Tax Day and get while the gettin' is good!
2007 Domaine de la Janasse Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Chaupin
Regular Price: $89.99
Pre-Sale Price: $74.98 a bottle (net)
Save 17%
Lowest Price In the United States
I have had so many terrific examples of the Chateauneuf du Pape Chaupin that it’s hard to say the 2007 is the finest of all, but it is truly an amazing, old vine Grenache cuvee. Just under 20,000 bottles were produced from sand and clay soils. This inky/purple-colored wine reveals exquisite aromatic fireworks consisting of creme de cassis, black raspberries, licorice, incense, and spice, awesome fruit, major concentration, and a serious finish of close to a minute. For a wine of such enormous size, it is remarkable for its overall equilibrium and freshness.
Young Christophe Sabon, with his sister by his side and his father in the background, is doing as great a job turning out terrific wines as any vigneron in the world. With nearly 200 acres of vineyards, 45 of them old vines situated in Chateauneuf du Pape, there is enormous potential, all of it being exploited. The 1998s, 1999s, 2000s, and 2001s were all fabulous at this estate, the 2003s were slightly irregular as well as tannic, the 2005s were great, the 2006s are fabulous, and the 2007s may be the sine qua non of all his vintages. The white wines are not to be missed as they are some of the freshest, most perfumed, lively whites of Southern France. The value picks represent remarkable bargains. The bottled 2006 low end wines are all in the marketplace. While they are not quite at the level of the 2007s, there are some gorgeous choices for consumers. Janasse’s 2007 Chateauneuf du Papes are outrageous, all of which performed brilliantly despite having just completed their malolactics after 11 months of fermentation. With all of the excitement over the 2007s, readers should not forget just how great Janasse’s 2006s have turned out. They are performing as well as they did last year, perhaps even better.
2007 Domaine de la Janasse Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Vieilles Vignes
Regular Price: $119.99
Pre-Sale Price: $105 a bottle (net)
Save 12%
Lowest Price in the United States
The 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes is one of the vintage’s most compelling wines. Most of the fruit for this offering comes from the estate vineyards in La Crau, and it is usually a blend of 80% Grenache (aged in tank and foudre) and the rest equal parts Syrah and Mourvedre that are kept in small barrels. Approxmiately 5,000-6,000 bottles are produced. It is hard to say whether this is the finest wine Christophe Sabon has made since taking over for his father, but what a profoundly great effort! It is an elixir of Chateauneuf du Pape with an inky/blue/purple color and an extraordinary nose of kirsch liqueur, black raspberries, licorice, truffles, graphite, and spice. The wine boasts enormous richness, incredible harmony, and a finish that lasts more than a minute. It is one of the most outrageously rich, concentrated, and perfect Chateauneuf du Papes I have ever tasted at this stage of development. It should last for 30+ years.
2007 Domaine Giraud Chateauneuf du Pape les Grenaches de Pierre
Regular Price: $74.99
Pre Sale Price: $57.00 (net)
Save 24%
Lowest Price in the United States
An extraordinary expression of old vine Grenache grown in sandy soils is the 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape Les Grenaches de Pierre. The two wines it most closely resembles are Rayas and the Barroche Pure, another 100% Grenache from the identical vineyard - Grand Pierre. Its deep ruby color reveals less saturation than the other two cuvees, and the nose offers up extraordinary scents of kirsch liqueur, sandy, loamy soil, pepper, and raspberries. Smelling like either a great vintage of Chateau Lafleur or Chateau Rayas, this is a fabulous wine. Kudos to Philippe Cambie for capturing the terroir and elusive quality of old vine Grenache that seemingly hits heights in Chateauneuf du Pape unequaled anywhere else in the world. Very full-bodied and broad with silky tannins, and ethereal to taste, this is a monumental example of Grenache to drink over the next 15+ years..
Brilliant oenologist, Philippe Cambie, has completely resurrected this estate, where he is now turning out some of the most extraordinary wines of the appellation, with the old vine Les Grenaches de Pierre an outstanding clone of Rayas. That-s not surprising in view of the fact that it comes from the pure sandy soils near Rayas. The traditional cuvee is aged in tank and old barrels, and represents a blend of 60% Grenache, 35% Syrah, and 5% Mourvedre. Les Gallimardes, also kept in tank and old barrels, is a combination of 90% Grenache and 10% Syrah. Les Grenaches de Pierre is 100% old vine Grenache also aged in old barrels and tank.
2007 Domaine de Marcoux Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes
Regular Price: $199.99
Pre-Sale Price: $155 (net)
Save 22%Lowest Price in the United States (next lowest price is $219)
The 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes is a 4,000-bottle cuvee produced largely from old vine sites in Les Gallimardes, Charbonniere, La Crau, and occasionally, Esquirons. In most vintages, this offering includes 98% Grenache, and it usually tips the scales at 15+% alcohol. The opaque purple-colored 2007 reveals an extraordinary nose of black truffles, acacia flowers, black raspberries, blackberries, licorice, incense, and camphor. Full-bodied and extraordinarily intense with perfect balance as well as superb freshness, this profound effort requires 3-4 years of bottle age, and should keep for 20-25 years after its release next year.
I’m always interested in what sisters Sophie and Catherine Armenier are doing at this biodynamically farmed vineyard, one of my favorite estates. Not surprisingly, they have produced extraordinary wines in 2007 as well as 2006s that are nearly as good. As most vignerons do, the Armeniers attribute the greatness of the 2007 vintage to both the drought that lasted from late spring through the end of September as well as the cooler than normal temperatures that were followed by three weeks of ferocious Mistral winds in September. Without any serious heat spikes, the Mistral seemed to concentrate the grapes, with the cooler weather causing very intense aromatics.
2007 Domaine de la Janasse Chateauneuf du Pape
Regular Price: $59.99
Pre-sale Price: $47.99 (net)
Save: $20%
The 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape is Sabon’s finest example of this cuvee I have yet tasted. It boasts a fabulous blue/purple color as well as a gorgeous nose of creme de cassis, kirsch, licorice, incense, and spice. Deep, full-bodied, and multilayered with excellent purity, depth, and length, it should drink beautifully for 20 years.
Young Christophe Sabon, with his sister by his side and his father in the background, is doing as great a job turning out terrific wines as any vigneron in the world. With nearly 200 acres of vineyards, 45 of them old vines situated in Chateauneuf du Pape, there is enormous potential, all of it being exploited. The 1998s, 1999s, 2000s, and 2001s were all fabulous at this estate, the 2003s were slightly irregular as well as tannic, the 2005s were great, the 2006s are fabulous, and the 2007s may be the sine qua non of all his vintages. The white wines are not to be missed as they are some of the freshest, most perfumed, lively whites of Southern France. The value picks represent remarkable bargains. The bottled 2006 low end wines are all in the marketplace. While they are not quite at the level of the 2007s, there are some gorgeous choices for consumers. Janasse’s 2007 Chateauneuf du Papes are outrageous, all of which performed brilliantly despite having just completed their malolactics after 11 months of fermentation. With all of the excitement over the 2007s, readers should not forget just how great Janasse’s 2006s have turned out. They are performing as well as they did last year, perhaps even better.
