Janasse Cotes du Rhone Terre d’Argile 2019

Sale $26.89 – beats best US price online!!!

Buy Three or more pay $23.99!

91-93+ pts Decanter 

Lines in the sand. Well, rocks, in the case of Chateauneuf du Pape. Lines in the rocks. That’s what it all comes down to. And who owned which rocks.

The creation of the Chateauneuf du Pape appellation happened in 1933, well before the advent of soil analysis or aerial photography and mapping. While the soils of Chateauneuf are indisputably special, the determination of where the lines should be drawn was, of course, not scientific. It isn’t a coincidence that the appellation lines are drawn more along the boundaries created by roads than they are natural formations or true changes in soils types or conditions. The land held by those “in the know” became part of Chateauneuf. On the other side of the road? Destined to languish! Heck, there is even a small lieu dit of Chateauneuf, “les Cassanets”, that is completely detached from the rest of the appellation. Am guessing someone powerful owned that plot!

Yet now, as the demand for Rhone wines increases every year, producers are paying more attention to these “marginal” areas.

Domaine de la Janasse, of course, is not just any producer. Over the past 25 years, they have become one of the most highly-regarded estates in Chateauneuf du Pape. But they are not one of the “old guard.” Their estate has been built by exploring and buying the plots others didn’t “get.” One of those plots is the source for this gem. Located a stone’s throw (literally!) from the Chateauneuf du Pape boundary, just outside Janasse’s famed holdings in Chaupin and la Jannasse, this vineyard was planted between 1955 and 1975.

These old vines are treated the same as those in Chateauneuf. I mean, once the men are in the field, they don’t just stop at some line drawn in the sand! Organically and biodynamically grown, the grapes are hand-harvested, and fermented in tank. A blend of equal parts Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre and Carignan, this little gem offers a flavor profile and style that is a dead-ringer for Chateuneuf. Heck, the Wine Advocate rates this the same as their traditional Chateauneuf that sells for $52! Like I said... half price!

“the 2019 Côtes du Rhône Villages Terre D’Argile reveals a saturated purple hue as well as a meaty, Provençal bouquet of blackcurrants, jammy black cherries, truffly earth, and Asian spices. With full-bodied richness, an expansive, opulent style, and a great finish, it’s going to be a no-brainer purchase to enjoy over the coming 7-8 years." JD

From the winery: “Between blackcurrant and tapenade, Terre d’Argile offers concentrated flavors, reminiscences of its famous neighbor. Dense and meaty, the mouth reveals deep and sweet ripe fruits on a persistent finish, which suggests a few good years of cellar aging. Serve within ten years on lamb chops.”

Okay… something got lost in translation there… I don’t think you would want to serve this ON lamb chops. WITH them would be better!


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