The 2013 Domaine de la Janasse Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes is a proprietary red blend from the renowned Southern Rhone region of France. This wine, produced by Domaine de la Janasse, is a complex mix of 65% Grenache, 20% Mourvedre, 10% Syrah, and 5% various other allowable grape varieties. It is characterized by its deep, rich flavors and robust structure, making it one of the standout wines of its vintage.
The wine has garnered high praise from several esteemed reviewers. Wine Spectator awarded it an impressive 95 points, highlighting its "ample stuffing, with lots of dark plum sauce, crushed cherry and warm blackberry confiture flavors forming the core." The review also noted the presence of "melted black licorice, plum eau-de-vie and black tea notes," concluding with a "lovely echo of ganache at the very end." This review specifically calls out its excellent aging potential, suggesting it will be at its best from 2018 through 2027.
Vinous, with a slightly lower score of 93 points, praised the wine's "ripe boysenberry and cassis on the exotically perfumed nose," and its "superb energy and a smooth, velvety texture." The review by Josh Raynolds noted that while the wine is deeply concentrated, it remains graceful with no excess fat. Its finish was described as "sweet and supple, displaying outstanding persistence and a suave flourish of floral pastilles."
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate also gave the wine a high score of 94 points, with Jeb Dunnuck describing it as having a "deep purple color" and offering "fabulous dark berry fruits, licorice, Provençal herbs and earthy/stony minerality on the nose." This review emphasized the wine's medium to full-bodied nature and its impressive concentration and ripeness, predicting a longevity of 10-15 years.
Decanter, similarly, awarded the wine 93 points, noting its "resplendent cherry and raspberry nose" and its balance of power and finesse. The review by Decanter highlighted the wine's rich, supple nature and brisk, fresh finish with excellent length.
Jeff Leve from TheWineCellarInsider.com also praised the wine, noting its "smoke, espresso, black cherries and lush textures," and calling it one of the top wines of the vintage.
In summary, the 2013 Domaine de la Janasse Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes is a remarkable wine that has been universally praised for its complexity, depth, and aging potential. Its blend of rich, dark fruit flavors with herbal and mineral notes makes it a standout choice for any wine enthusiast.