2007 Domaine de la Janasse Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes

“A bigger, richer, more concentrated wine than the ethereally textured Cuvée Chaupin, the 2007 Châteauneuf du Pape Cuvée Vieilles Vignes is unquestionably one of the wines of the vintage as well as one of the finest Châteauneuf du Papes ever made. Offering notes of cassis, roasted meats, beef blood and licorice, this heavenly 2007 is full-bodied, hugely concentrated and rich yet shows incredible purity, focus and precision, with no sensation of heaviness or weight. It’s still deep purple colored, with no signs of evolution, and it has another two decades of life. Having said that, it’s a gorgeous drink today. (JD)” (02/2017)

“The 2007 Janasse Vieilles Vignes has that classic, roasted, fruity attack found in so many 2007s - roasted spices, cooked down blackberries. Very full-bodied, concentrated, powerful, with high alcohol in the mix with the other intense elements. Very long finish, with coffee beans amidst the fruit. It's a huge wine, a very impressive one, but this is for fully dedicated Châteauneuf fans - it might be simply too much for some wine lovers. Extremely fleshy, opulent and rich. Hard to score - arguably it's a better wine than 2008, certainly more impressive, but it doesn't have the same balance. For now, I'd drink the 2008, but 2007 promises to be more interesting when it's older, from around 2026. 'It was the year when I said to myself, "I have to rein it in",' says Christophe Sabon. Even he admits he went a bit far in terms of extraction and power! The blend also contains some Clairette Rose, Cinsault and Counoise. (MW)” (02/2022)

“Inky purple. Hypnotic bouquet of dark berries, flowers and spices complicated by black olive, sandalwood and star anise. Lush, creamy and liqueur-like in its depth and sweetness, offering palate-enveloping boysenberry and blueberry flavors and exotic floral pastille and spicecake qualities. Fine-grained tannins add grip and focus to an endless sweet, floral aftertaste. (JR)” (01/2010)

“This is awash in fruit—plum, boysenberry, fig and blackberry—all seamlessly intertwined, while hints of graphite, melted licorice, black tea and violet fill the available space. The long finish has great latent grip. *Collectible* (JM)” (11/2009)

“nice full robe; gracious, blackberry and bacon aroma that is full and nicely oily – it beckons the drinker. The palate's blackberry fruit has an open nature, with lots of juice and pleasure in it. The fruit is delivered steadily, without fuss, and it is nice and wide and juicy all through. Easy, open pleasure, in the here and now. Maybe worth a small wait for more variety and kick.” (11/2008)