All four 2007 Chateauneuf du Papes, including the unbottled new cuvee, are absolutely brilliant efforts. A true sleeper of the vintage, and a wine to buy by the case given its reasonable price is the 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape. This blend of 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah and Mourvedre from 40-year-old vines was aged 80% in tank and the rest in small oak. Its dense purple color is accompanied by sweet aromas of creme de cassis, kirsch, incense, spice box, and a touch of toast. Deep and multidimensional with huge glycerin, great acids, and sweet tannins, this massive 2007 is accessible now, and should last for 15-20+ years. Always one of my favorite stops on my Rhone Valley trips, Domaine de la Janasse is run with incredible passion by Christophe Sabon, his sister Isabelle, and his father, who showed up nearly half naked as he was bringing in some white grapes on the torridly hot day I visited. What this family operation has achieved over the last decade is nothing short of remarkable considering the breadth of wines made, from their Vin de Pays, which are among the finest made in France, to their world-class Cotes du Rhones and Chateauneuf du Papes. While this estate is at the top of its game, it is not content to rest on the status quo and continues to push the envelope. Their 2008s are among the finest wines of the vintage, and as the following tasting notes and scores indicate, their 2007s are out of this world. The 2008 reds are surprisingly strong across the board at Domaine de la Janasse. There is no Cotes du Rhone Les Garrigues or Chateauneuf du Pape Chaupin in this vintage, but the other cuvees are all noteworthy. 2007 is the greatest vintage I have ever tasted of Domaine de la Janasse – and that’s says something given the amazing wines produced here in 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005, and 2006.Importer: Eric Solomon, European Selections, Charlotte, NC; tel. (704) 358-1565