The last in the Chateauneuf-du-Papes from our 2018 Rhone En Primeur campaign comes from Domaine Roger Sabon. Simply put; there is no better value in Chateauneuf du Pape than the inimitable bold and elegant wines of this benchmark estate: Starting at just £115 IB per 6 for a mighty 92-95 point wine, Sabon’s Chateauneuf du Pape Reserve, you cannot find better wine at a better price from this region. Domaine Roger Sabon, helmed by Didier Negron is adored by critics world-wide; wine behemoth Robert Parker declared“This has long been one of my favorite estates in the southern Rhone.” Jeb Dunnuck, the modern-day voice of the Rhone is also a fan;“I continue to love the wines from Didier Negron at Roger Sabon, yet I always feel they’re underappreciated in the market.” This under-the-radar, over-achieving Domaine consistently produces out some of the greatest Chateauneuf du Pape in the vintage, and their 2018s are a triumph in a trifector of great vintages. Long may it remain ‘underappreciated in the market’.
Stylistically these are full bodied bold Chateauneuf’s initially, but after a small amount of time in bottle, their seamless Grenache elegance begins to show. There are three wines: The Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Reserve at £115 IB per 6 (92-95 Points), which is so well priced you can ply friends and family with it over long Sunday lunches and not feel a dent in your wallet. It can be drunk on release, but will happily live in your cellar for over 20 years. There is the massively over-performing Cuvee Prestige at £155 IB per 6 – scoring a whopping 94-96 points – which makes the 92-95 point Clos des Papes CNDP 2018 at £355 IB per six blush. This really is proper wine for your money, there is unbelievable purity of fruit, it’s creamy in texture and very long indeed. Then there is the tiny production 94-97 point Secret des Sabon at £550 IB per six, which is very limited indeed and regarded as the top wine from this estate. It is called Secret because they do not disclose the final grape blends in the wine – although it is suspected it is mainly Grenache from vines that are 100 years old.
“one of the more intellectual vignerons in Châteauneuf du-Pape”. Robert Parker
“This benchmark estate continues to turn out a stable of excellent wines under the stewardship of Didier Negron.” Robert Parker
Domaine Roger Sabon is steeped in CNDP history – The Sabon family is an ancient and well regarded name in Chateauneuf du Pape, first mentioned in documents dating back to 1540. The first Sabon to bottle under the family name was Seraphin in 1921. But it was his son Roger who in 1952 started the Domaine as we know it today. It is now run by sons Denis and Gilbert, with son-in-law Didier Negron as the current winemaker. Most of their vineyard holdings are in the North Eastern part of the appellation, where there are sandier limestone soils and less ‘pudding stones’. Grenache rules the roost in this part of the appellation (although they grow a small amount of 10 other CNDP grapes) and wines made from this area tend to be more ethereal and elegant than from those in the South, although Domaine Sabon also has some vine parcels on the famous ‘Le Crau’ ridge where benchmark Chateauneuf du Pape Vieux Telegraphe have their holdings. This family operation produces some of the great Chateauneuf du Papes which are just crying out for be drunk at these low prices. Please don’t hesitate in placing your order.