Sabon Chateauneuf-du-Pape with robust meaty pizza

Sabon Chateauneuf-du-Pape with robust meaty pizza

For finishing the left over premium pizza with several meats from earlier in the week, featured in this blogpost - Valmaggiore Sandrone Nebbiolo with Pizza, I pulled from the cellar this premium Rhône Valley red blend. 

Roger Sabon Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee ‘Le Secret des Sabon’ 2012

While the current Roger Sabon family estate was founded in 1952 by Roger Sabon, the historic ancestral Domaine Roger Sabon history dates back to the 16th century, when the Sabon family first owned vineyards in Chateauneuf-du-Pape, in France’s southern Rhône River Valley. By the 18th century the Sabons were not only making wine but helping promote and improve all Rhone Valley wines by helping establish appellation standards. 

Today the 109-acre Domaine Roger Sabon estate is run by Jean-Jacques, Denis and Gilbert Sabon, all descendants of the founder. 

The estate’s total acreage, is split up on both sides of the Rhône River, with 37 acres in Chateauneuf-du-Pape appellation, on the left bank of the River, and spread over 14 different plots with that classic terroir of sand and limestone soils. The winery sits just on the northern edge of the village Chateauneuf-du-Pape. 

On the right bank, the vineyard includes 30 acres in the Lirac appellation, 15 acres in the Côtes-du-Rhône and 35 acres in the Vin de France.

We visited Chateauneuf-du-Pape in 1998 and again in 2019 - Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe. Châteauneuf-du-Pape, and A visit to Château La Nerthe.

The estate also makes Chateauneuf-du-Pape Blanc, as well as a Lirac and Cotes du Rhone, which are sourced from the domain’s vineyards in Roquemaure. Robert M. Parker Jr. calls Domain Roger Sabon a traditionalist producer that “has been making exceptionally high-quality wines for years…”

La Cuvee Prestige is the domain’s flagship wine, though it also makes this very limited production Le Secret des Sabon in certain vintages, the top wine of the estate. Those wines are 60% – 80% Grenache from vines that are 80 to 100 years old. 

This 2012 release was rated 96 points by Robert Parkers’ Wine Advocate, 95 points by Wine Spectator, and 94 points by Vinous.

Winemaker Notes - Deep ruby color. Rich and generous mouth. This cuvée aims at giving the best expression of Grenache on elegance, with a peculiar attention on balance, freshness and tannic structure.

Bright Ruby red colored, full bodied, but smooth easy drinking with expressive lively sweet ripe rich raspberry, plum and blackberry fruits with notes of kirsch, garrigue and licorice, turning to hints of graphite, black tea, leather and tar notes with a hint of white pepper, glycerol, sweet soft tannins and moderate acidity on the lively lingering finish.

RM 93 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/w?1779454

http://www.domainerogersabon.com/en/__trashed/

Roger Sabon Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservé with BBQ Ribs

Roger Sabon Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservé with BBQ Ribs 

We acquired a six pack case of this wine shortly after release back in 2010. Our tasting notes of the previous three bottles we consumed over the years read nearly identically, and could be replayed to accurately portray tonight’s tasting - consumed at home with BBQ ribs and baked potatoes ….

Roger Sabon Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservé 2007

This is from the Roger Sabon family run domaine/estate, named for its founder who started producing wines in 1952 from family vineyards that date back to 1540.  The Sabon family can trace their family roots in the Southern Rhone Valley back to 1540, which is nine years older than Beaucastel, a major leading historic producer in the area. 

The first vintage bottled by what know today as Roger Sabon was in 1921. At the time, the Domaine was managed by Seraphin Sabon. Sabon had three entrepreneurial, successful sons; Joseph Sabon, who founded Clos du Mont Olivet, Noel Sabon, who started the Domaine Chante Cigale, and Roger.

Roger passed responsibility for the domaine over to his three sons, Gilbert, Jean-Jacques and Denis in 1976. Today, they are joined by Denis’ daughter, Delphine, who runs the commercial side of the winery and his son, Julien who works with him managing the vineyards. Jean-Jacques son-in-law Didier Negron is in charge of the winemaking, having previously worked at other prestigious domaines in Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

Under the helm of Winemaker Didier Negron, Domaine Roger Sabon stands among the top handful of producers in the Southern Rhône. 

The winery lies on the edge of the village of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, a short walk from the village center. Over the years the domaine vineyard holdings have grown to a total of 117 acres, split up on both sides of the Rhône River of which 42 are within the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation, on the left bank of the River, and spread over 14 different plots.

On the right bank, the vineyard includes 30 acres in the Lirac appellation, 15 acres of Côtes-du-Rhône and 35 acres of Vin de France.

Their diversity of locations, even plots within the same appellation, have a broad range of different geological profiles, from which Sabon produce a broad portfolio of wines with varied profiles. 

They produce four Châteauneuf du Pape cuvées starting with an entry level Les Olivets from younger vines. This Cuvée Reserve comes from the primary estate vineyards sourced from vines planted on La Crau Ouest and La Grenade. It is a blend of 70-80% Grenache and the rest Syrah and Mourvèdre, and is aged in foudre (large oak vat/barrels) and oak tanks. 

Another, Cuvée Prestige is based on 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, and the rest mostly Mourvèdre that’s aged in foudre, oak tanks, and demi-muids. 

The smallest production cuvée (there are usually just 100 cases produced), the Le Secret des Sabon is based mostly on a field blend of Grenache that’s raised completely in tronconique oak tanks.

All the Sabon Châteauneuf-du-Pape reds age for 18 months. The first six months are spent in concrete or stainless-steel vats in order to remove the roughest lees with the help of the first cold of winter. After this period, our different cuvees are blended and put into wooden containers of different dimensions, 40hl for the largest ones (foudres), 25hl for the truncated tanks, and 600 litres for the double hogsheads (demi-muids).

We visited the area several times over the years, most recently in 2019 with son Alec and Vivianna, featured in blogposts in these pages -

 

La Presqu'Ile Restaurant à Bédarrides Vaucluse France

Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe. Châteauneuf-du-Pape

A visit to Château La Nerthe

Roger Sabon Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservé 2007

As noted, this is one of our perennial favorite food and wine pairings, Châteauneuf du Pape reds or other Southern Rhône cuvées with hearty BBQ. This is almost a complete and accurate replay of an earlier tasting of this wine, we opened this to serve with barbecue ribs, an ideal pairing which thereby enhances and amplifies the enjoyment of both.

I wrote back in 2021, “Consistent with my last tasting of this wine going on just two years ago, at fourteen years, this 2007 vintage release may be at the apex of its drinking profile and window. The fill level, label and cork were perfect.” 

Tonight, I would reiterate the same thing, albeit now at 18 years.  

While somewhat subdued the first evening upon opening, I reopened it the next evening and it was more expressive,  bigger and more complex with more pronounced fruits. 

This wine was rated 92 points from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, Jeb Dunnuck, Wine Spectator and Vinous - a rare occasion of absolute concensus amongst four leading wine critics.  

This is a blend of 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, and 10% Cinsault CDP varietals. 

As written in previous tasting, classic Châteauneuf-du-Pape profile and characteristics, minus the black pepper notes which are suppressed and replaced by notes of lavender and floral. 

Deep, dark ruby/purple colored, medium to full-bodied, black berry and black currant fruits with licorice, black tea, notes of vanilla bean, roasted herb, forest floor and meaty aromas with smooth tangy black cherry notes, licorice and smoky minerals lingering on a moderate tannin laced finish. 

RM 91 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=634331

http://www.domainerogersabon.com/en/__trashed/

Earlier posts … 

https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2019/09/roger-sabon-chateauneuf-du-pape-cuvee.html

https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2021/07/roger-sabon-chateauneuf-du-pape-cuvee.html

https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2021/04/roger-sabon-chateauneuf-du-pape-cuvee.html

Roger Sabon Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservé 2007

Roger Sabon Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservé 2007

I finished of the remains of another Chateauneuf-Du-Pape from the cooler and enjoyed it so much, I opted to open another CDP with leftover beefsteak. My mood for this appellation was bolstered by memories of our trip to the region, stirred by having a limited release premium bottle Chateau La Nerthe at dinner the other evening, and the (very) late, delayed posting of one of our events during that trip. Just yesterday I finally posted a note about our lunch in Bedarrides Chateauneuf-du-Pape.

This wine was rated 92 points from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, Jeb Dunnuck, Wine Spectator and Vinous - a rare occasion of absolute concensus amongst four leading wine critics.  

It is a blend of 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, and 10% Cinsault CDP varietals.

Consistent with my last tasting of this wine going on just two years ago, at fourteen years, this 2007 vintage release may be at the apex of its drinking profile and window. The fill level, label and cork were perfect.

Classic Châteauneuf-du-Pape profile and characteristics, minus the black pepper notes which are suppressed and replaced by notes of lavender and floral.

Deep, dark ruby/purple colored, medium to full-bodied, black berry and black currant fruits with licorice, black tea, notes of vanilla bean, roasted herb, forest floor and meaty aromas with smooth tangy black cherry notes, licorice and smoky minerals lingering on a moderate tannin laced finish. 

RM 91 points. 

https://www.cellartracker.com/barcode.asp?iWine=634331

https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2019/09/roger-sabon-chateauneuf-du-pape-cuvee.html

Roger Sabon Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservé 2007

Roger Sabon Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservé 2007 for BBQ Rib Dinner

Almost a complete and accurate replay of an earlier tasting of this wine, we opened this to serve with barbecue ribs.

While somewhat subdued the first evening upon opening, I reopened it the next evening and it was more expressive,  bigger and more complex with more pronounced fruits. 

This wine was rated 92 points from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, Jeb Dunnuck, Wine Spectator and Vinous - a rare occasion of absolute concensus amongst four leading wine critics.  

This is a blend of 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, and 10% Cinsault CDP varietals.

As written in previous tasting, classic Châteauneuf-du-Pape profile and characteristics, minus the black pepper notes which are suppressed and replaced by notes of lavender and floral.

Deep, dark ruby/purple colored, medium to full-bodied, black berry and black currant fruits with licorice, black tea, notes of vanilla bean, roasted herb, forest floor and meaty aromas with smooth tangy black cherry notes, licorice and smoky minerals lingering on a moderate tannin laced finish. 

RM 91 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/barcode.asp?iWine=634331

 

Roger Sabon Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservé 2007

Roger Sabon Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservé 2007 for BBQ Rib Dinner

We opened this to serve with barbecue ribs and sweet potatoes and grilled squash for gala family dinner with nieces Krysta and Jenna and nephew in-law Andrew visiting from Cal. 

This wine was rated 92 points from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, Jeb Dunnuck, Wine Spectator and Vinous - a rare occasion of absolute concensus amongst four leading wine critics.  

It is a blend of 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, and 10% Cinsault CDP varietals.

Classic Châteauneuf-du-Pape profile and characteristics, minus the black pepper notes which are suppressed and replaced by notes of lavender and floral.

Deep, dark ruby/purple colored, medium to full-bodied, black berry and black currant fruits with licorice, black tea, notes of vanilla bean, roasted herb, forest floor and meaty aromas with smooth tangy black cherry notes, licorice and smoky minerals lingering on a moderate tannin laced finish. 

RM 91 points. 

https://www.cellartracker.com/barcode.asp?iWine=634331