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 2007This 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 -
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.
