The only 2010 white wine I was able to taste was the 2010 Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc Cuvee Prestige, which is one of the greatest white Chateauneuf du Papes I have ever tasted. It is even better than it was last year as it has developed more bottle bouquet. An intoxicating, staggering perfume of tangerine oil, orange marmalade, apricots and exotic fruit soars from the glass of this full-bodied, beautifully textured, pure yet harmonious, expansive, dry white wine. This is about as good as it gets for a southern Rhone white. Domaine de la Janasse is one of the great winemaking estates of not only France, but of the world. It is situated adjacent to the Auto Route de Soleil opposite Chateauneuf du Pape, at the entrance to the village of Courthezon. Janasse is managed by Christophe Sabon and his sister, Isabelle. Although their father is technically retired, he is still a visible as well as spiritual presence at this superb estate. Janasse owns over 40 acres in Chateauneuf du Pape as well as significant holdings in the Cotes du Rhone appellations. The consistency at this estate since the mid-1990s has been remarkable. Year in and year out, the wines, both reds and whites, are among the finest one will find ... anywhere! 2011 is consistently a top vintage at Janasse, even though it is by no means a great vintage in the southern Rhone, and their prodigious 2010s compete with their remarkable array of 2007s and 2009s. First, the 2011s, a challenging year that depended on vignerons making strict selections, not only in the vineyard, but also on the triage tables. Sabon has certainly done that. Janasse’s white Chateauneuf du Papes are fascinating as Sabon is one of the last producers to still do a 100% malolactic fermentation and no filtration. 2010 rivals 2007 as the two greatest vintages I have ever tasted at Domaine de la Janasse (and I’ve been tasting their wines for over two decades). Importer: Eric Solomon, European Selections, Charlotte, NC; tel. (704) 358-1565

There are 75 cases of the limited production cuvee of 60% Roussanne and the rest Bourboulenc, Clairette and Grenache Blanc aged in 2-3 year old small barrels, the 2010 Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc Cuvee Prestige. A staggering perfume of orange rinds, honeysuckle, apricots, rose petals and candle wax jump from this full-bodied, unctuously textured yet precise white. This is a sensational white Chateauneuf du Pape, and the 2009 is equal in quality, but slightly less fresh and perhaps more evolved and on a faster aging track. This impeccably run estate, in the capable hands of Christophe Sabon, his sister Isabelle, and their father, is one of the superstars of the southern Rhone Valley. Over the last 12-15 years, the quality of the wines has gone from strength to strength, with brilliant wines being produced in all price categories. They make sumptuous, complex, world-class red, white and rose Cotes du Rhones, and year-in and year-out, their Chateauneuf du Papes are among the top three or four wines of the vintage. Tasting two great vintages (2009 and 2010) from the Sabons was one of the most thrilling tastings I have had this year. My tasting began with some unbelievable Cotes du Rhones.Importer: Eric Solomon, European Selections, Charlotte, NC; tel. (704) 358-1565