February 24, 2022 - Beautiful nose of ripe red fruits, kirsch, tobacco, ash and spices. Soft, fruity palate, ripe, yet with good acidity. Very spicy again on the palate with steady, fine tannins. Classically styled. I always prefer the finesse of the Chaupin over this and also the VV, but the 2008 is definitely a very, very good vintage for this classic bottling. Lots of sediment, so decant carefully. 17/20
October 2, 2020 - Ruby red in color. 14.5% ABV. Brooding nose of dark fruits, asphalt and garrigue. Medium to full bodied with ample acidity. Throwing substantial sediment. Black raspberry, kirsch and roasted herbs on the palate. Medium length on the finish. Classically styled CdP from a more modern producer. The wine over delivers in a mediocre vintage. Best over the next several years.
June 28, 2020 - Svingott
November 18, 2019 - The inclement weather of 2008 led Janasse to skip making the Chaupin. They used those grapes for their basic CDP. It's certainly not quite as intense in color and flavor as good vintage Chaupin but I'm glad to have to have a few bottles! Garrigue, plenty of red fruit-interestingly, there is some framboise du bois. Well balanced. Nice tannins still. And these are my notes after the bottle has been open for two days.
December 11, 2018 - The Janasse basic Chateauneuf du Pape was the bottling especially worth buying in the 2008 vintage, because the old vines and best blocks that normally went into the premium top cuvees went instead into the basic bottling. While the 2008 harvest do not achieve the superb quality of the best vintages, the quality was still better than the leftovers after the top cuvees skimmed off the best grapes. The color is is dark ruby but short of opaque, with inviting aromas of raspberry and blackberry. The sip is replete with bright fruit, refreshing acidity, and drying tannin that has no bitterness or unripeness. Although more elegant than powerful, the wine got significantly richer and better integrated by the 3rd day open. Overall, one of the top 2 wines of 7 served on the table with lunch and dinner, that we kept coming back to for more.
September 18, 2016 - A bit over-cooked
August 13, 2016 - Better than I expected, considering the vintage. Nice nose. Ripe dark fruit, with some good acidity and remaining structure, and good balance. Ready now, but should hold up well for several years more years.
April 21, 2016 - Solid any-night CdP. Spicy, cherry-prune flavored with herbal leanings, longish finish, medium intensity and moderate acidity. Expressive nose. Drinking well now with an hour or more decant.
January 31, 2016 - Un peu déçu par ce vin, qui n'était pas très expressif au premier abord. Avec un peu d'oxydation et avec l'absence de filtration qui donne à mâcher un peu, cela s'améliora au bout de deux jours. Très centré sur les fruits noirs mûrs, quelques notes d'épices et l'alcool un peu marqué mais pas brûlant tout de même. Je ne pense pas qu'il faille attendre bien plus, ce n'est pas la complexité de la cuvée vieilles vignes, voilà tout.
December 29, 2015 - Minerally driven, mouthful of wine, seeming leaner than it is. Early drinking & good value.