2011 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Le Secret des Sabon, Roger Sabon, Rhône
- Red
- Dry
- Full Bodied
Ready - at best
- Jeb Dunnuck
- 95/100
- Robert Parker
- 92-94/100
Product: 20111170487
Description
One of the greatest wines in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, its secret is hard to unlock, its quality residing in a harmonious and complete structural integrity that is evident even at this early stage. Old vines from two parcels in the Courthezon commune shoulder the responsibility for this master-piece, one of our favourites this year.
Simon Field MW, BBR Buyer
The loquacious Didier Negron recognises that Grenache was plentiful in 2011, unlike the coulure-blighted 2010, but that it had to be treated with care. The juxtaposition of an impressive early flowering and a cool but dry mid-season has engendered a heterogeneous crop, rather like 2007, but in a minor key. Didier’s clever manipulation of differing sizes of container in order to undermine the oxidative nature of Grenache, has ensured the purity and definition of his wines. He is proving a most worthy successor to the great Jean-Jacques Sabon, his father-in-law, who died last year.
Simon Field MW, BBR Buyer
The loquacious Didier Negron recognises that Grenache was plentiful in 2011, unlike the coulure-blighted 2010, but that it had to be treated with care. The juxtaposition of an impressive early flowering and a cool but dry mid-season has engendered a heterogeneous crop, rather like 2007, but in a minor key. Didier’s clever manipulation of differing sizes of container in order to undermine the oxidative nature of Grenache, has ensured the purity and definition of his wines. He is proving a most worthy successor to the great Jean-Jacques Sabon, his father-in-law, who died last year.
Colour Red
Sweetness Dry
Vintage 2011
Maturity Ready - at best
Body Full Bodied
Producer Domaine Roger Sabon
Critics reviews
Jeb Dunnuck 95/100
Starting with the 2011 Chateauneuf du Pape Le Secret du Sabon, it shows the sunny character of the vintage with its perfumed kirsch and red fruits, herbes de Provence, licorice and ground spices. A big wine, it possesses full-bodied richness, fine tannin and a seamless, elegant style that will allow it to evolve gracefully for 15 years or more.jeb_dunnuck - 28/08/2014
Robert Parker 92-94/100
A Chateauneuf du Pape Le Secret des Sabon 2011 was produced, and it is a candidate for the wine of the vintage. This superb effort displays a dense ruby/purple color along with notes of charcoal, camphor, black truffles, roasted meats, creme de cassis and blackberries. Brutally young and unevolved, which is atypical for a 2011, but super-rich and full, it should last an uncommonly long time for a wine from this vintage – possibly 15-20 years. This has long been one of my favorite estates in the southern Rhone. Like many of the old families of Chateauneuf du Pape, the Sabons have been estate bottling since 1921. They own nearly 44 acres of vines divided among 15 different parcels, with some of their most significant holdings in the famed La Crau sector of the appellation. The style here is a brilliant combination of the best traditional techniques married to a handful of modern nuances. As I wrote last year, the 2009s were super at Domaine Roger Sabon. Even better, the 2010s may be the greatest vintage ever produced, including the 2007 and 2005. The 2011 vintage appears to be very strong as well. There are four Chateauneuf du Pape cuvees, including the limited production (150 cases), luxurious, over-the-top Le Secret des Sabon, which comes from nearly 110-year-old vines, and is a field blend of largely Grenache and many other authorized grapes. robert_parker, Wine Advocate #204, Dec 2012
About this wine
Domaine Roger Sabon
Roger Sabon is described by Robert Parker as "one of the more intellectual vignerons in Châteauneuf du-Pape". His vineyard holdings are surprisingly small, around 14 hectares, which are divided between his properties in Lirac, Chateauneuf-du-Pape and Cotes du Rhône. The Châteauneuf vineyards are well situated in Les Cabrieres, La Crau, Courtherzon and Nalys and the average age of his vines is unusually high with some of them dating back to the early 1900s. The general cepage is made up of 70% Grenache although this is reduced in his top two cuvées, the Cuvee Reservee and he Cuvée Prestige. Roger Sabon is a traditionalist and prefers to age his wines in small oak piece, none of which are new, for six months following a sojourn en cuve. He places great emphasis upon elegance rather than power in his wines and in youth his wine can be deceiving. With time, however, they grow and gain in depth and complexity and are some of the finest Châteauneufs being produced today.
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