In Courthézon, Domaine de la Janasse stands among the leading names of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, producing deep, expressive and refined Southern Rhône wines. Run by Isabelle and Christophe Sabon, the estate combines old-vine Grenache, a remarkable diversity of terroirs and precise winemaking to craft wines of power, freshness and impressive ageing potential.

Domaine de la Janasse — The majestic expression of Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Founded in 1973 by Aimé Sabon, Domaine de la Janasse is one of the most respected estates in the Southern Rhône. Located in Courthézon, in the northern part of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, the domaine has built its reputation on deep, expressive and age-worthy wines shaped by old vines, meticulous vineyard work and a remarkable diversity of soils.

Today run by Isabelle and Christophe Sabon, the estate combines family tradition with precise, thoughtful winemaking. Its wines express the generous soul of Châteauneuf-du-Pape while retaining freshness, finesse and balance — a style that has made Janasse one of the benchmarks of the appellation.

History: a family estate rooted in the Rhône

Domaine de la Janasse was established by Aimé Sabon in 1973, after years of supplying grapes to the local cooperative. The estate progressively developed its own identity, becoming known for wines of character, generosity and remarkable consistency.

With the arrival of Christophe and Isabelle Sabon, the domaine gained further precision and international recognition. The family continues to work with a clear objective: preserving the strength of the Rhône’s traditional grape varieties while refining the texture, balance and elegance of each cuvée.

Terroir: stones, sand and old vines

The estate covers more than 90 hectares, including around 15 hectares in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Its vineyards are spread across a mosaic of terroirs: rolled pebbles, sandy soils, limestone and sandstone parcels. This diversity allows for precise parcel-by-parcel work and gives the wines both power and nuance.

Grenache Noir is the dominant variety, including very old vines that bring depth, perfume and natural concentration. It is complemented by Syrah, Mourvèdre, Cinsault and several traditional white Rhône varieties.

Viticulture and vinification: precision serving generosity

Vineyard work is carried out with great care, with sustainable practices and a strong focus on grape balance. Harvesting is manual, allowing careful selection of fruit according to parcel, variety and vintage conditions.

In the cellar, vinification is adapted to each cuvée. Destemming may be partial or complete depending on the vintage, macerations are carefully managed, and ageing is tailored to the wine’s profile: tanks for fruit purity, foudres and demi-muids for structure and refinement, with limited use of new oak.

Wine style

The red wines of Domaine de la Janasse are deep, expressive and structured, with aromas of black cherry, blackberry, plum, liquorice, garrigue, pepper, sweet spices and violet. Despite their richness, they remain balanced by freshness, silky tannins and a long, harmonious finish.

The white wines show generosity and texture, with notes of stone fruit, white flowers, citrus peel and Mediterranean herbs. Their freshness and mineral tension give them more ageing potential than many Southern Rhône whites.

Emblematic cuvées

Ageing and gastronomic pairings

The top cuvées of Domaine de la Janasse can age beautifully for 10 to 25 years, depending on vintage and bottling. Vieilles Vignes and Chaupin are particularly suited to long cellaring, gaining notes of leather, truffle, sweet spices and dried garrigue with time.

The red wines pair naturally with roast lamb, beef, game, duck, Mediterranean herbs, truffle dishes, slow-cooked meats and mature cheeses. The whites are well suited to poultry, noble fish, creamy dishes, Mediterranean cuisine and lightly spiced recipes.