Domaine de la Janasse Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Vieilles Vignes is made from 65% Grenache, 20% Mourvèdre, 10% Syrah, 5% divers.
In contrast to Chaupin, which is made from old-vine Grenache on sandy soils, the cuvée Vieilles Vignes is from old vines of Grenache, Mourvedre, Syrah along with smaller percentages of other permitted varieties that are grown in these old vineyards. The wine is sourced from 4 terroirs: pebbly clay, sand, gravelly red clay and sandy limestone. Vieilles Vignes is always the most powerful and concentrated Châteauneuf-du-Pape cuvée made at Domaine de la Janasse.
Review:
The 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape Vieilles Vignes also saw some stems (the estate started keeping some stems with the 2016 vintage) and was 75% destemmed, with the blend being 70% Grenache, 20% Mourvèdre, and the rest Syrah, Cinsault, and Terret Noir. As usual, it’s a more powerful, black-fruited wine comparted to the Cuvée Chaupin and has lots of crème de cassis, liquid violet, crushed stone, woodsmoke, and peppery herbs. It displays the vintage’s purity and freshness yet brings the concentration as well as the structure. I’ll be shocked if it’s not in the handful of top wines in the vintage.
-Jeb Dunnuck 96-98 Points
Composition is a remarkable collaboration between Bertrand de Villaine, co-owner of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, and Katrina Rank, a talented Oregon-based winemaker. Together, they bring a uniquely Franco-Oregonian perspective to Pinot Noir, merging Burgundian philosophy with the vibrant expression of Willamette Valley terroir.
The fruit is sourced from carefully selected vineyards in Oregon's Willamette Valley, where the cool maritime climate and volcanic soils produce Pinot Noir of remarkable finesse and complexity. Aged 10 months in oak barrels with 30% new oak, the wine is crafted to highlight purity of fruit while allowing gentle structural support. 13% alcohol.
The Composition Pinot Noir delivers a light and perfumed style with layers of red cherry, wild strawberry, and subtle floral notes, supported by fine-grained tannins and bright, refreshing acidity. A wine of elegance and restraint that reflects the harmony between two great winemaking traditions.