The 2019 Domaine de la Janasse Châteauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes is a proprietary blend red wine from the Southern Rhone region of France. Produced by Domaine de la Janasse, this wine is composed of 85% Grenache, 10% Mourvèdre, and 5% Syrah, and has an alcohol content of 15.5%. It was matured primarily in foudres and barrels, with fermentation taking place in concrete.
This vintage has received high praise from multiple professional reviewers. Jeb Dunnuck, awarding it 97 points, describes the wine as "a tour de force," noting its "deep purple hue," and "rich, powerful, full-bodied" nature. He highlights the presence of "cassis and darker berry fruits, notes of ground pepper, cured meats, and scorched earth," and emphasizes its "ripe, building tannins, incredible balance, and a great finish." Dunnuck predicts it will "flirt with perfection at maturity" and remain drinkable for up to 30 years.
Decanter also rated this wine 97 points, commenting on its "lovely density of dark fruit" and describing it as "powerful, long, concentrated and fresh." They note the wine's "warming" alcohol but appreciate its "warmth, generosity and endlessly deep, dark fruit." Decanter suggests this wine is one for the cellar.
Wine Enthusiast awarded this wine an impressive 98 points, noting its blend of "Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah and other grapes from four distinct vineyard sites." Reviewer Anna Lee C. Iijima praises its "piercing blackberry and black-plum flavors," "flurries of peppercorn and anise," and "ripe, feathery tannins." She believes the wine will improve through 2040 and beyond.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate matched this high score with 98 points, with Joe Czerwinski describing the wine's "black cherries, blackberries and garrigue" on the nose. He acknowledges the "formidable tannins" but finds them ripe, noting the wine's "vibrant and intense" fruit. Czerwinski suggests that it could achieve a performance close to the 2009 or 2010 vintages.
Other reviewers, including Wine Spectator (95 points) and James Suckling (92 points), also commend the wine for its rich flavors and potential for aging. Wine Spectator’s James Molesworth notes its "steeped dark plum, blackberry and açai berry fruit flavors" and "good underlying grip." Suckling highlights the "striking nose of cardamon, licorice and bell pepper" and advises that it will be best from 2024 onwards.
Overall, the 2019 Domaine de la Janasse Châteauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes is highly regarded for its depth, complexity, and aging potential, making it a notable choice for collectors and enthusiasts.
