The Sabon family is an ancient and respected name in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, with their winemaking heritage first documented in 1540. Domaine Roger Sabon, established in 1952, remains a true family affair. Roger’s sons, Denis and Gilbert, currently run the estate: Denis and his son Julien oversee vineyard management, while Gilbert and his niece Delphine manage operations in the office.

The domaine has grown gradually over time to encompass 18 sustainably farmed hectares in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Most holdings lie in the northeastern part of the appellation, characterized by sandy soils rich in limestone, complemented by plots in the renowned Le Crau, famed for its red clay and galets. In the cellar, the approach has evolved toward concrete tanks and neutral oak to ensure absolute clarity and pure expression of fruit. And the clarity is there to see—these wines are luminous! 

The cuvée Prestige comes from the domaine’s oldest vines, many older than a century! The vines are planted on red clay covered in a rough layer of galets from La Crau, Cabrières, and Le Grand Pierre. The blend is largely grenache with the remainder of syrah, mourvedre, cinsault, counoise, vaccarèse, muscardin, and terret noir. The grapes are gently hand harvested before fermenting in concrete. The wine ages for 18-months in large neutral French oak demi-muids before bottling. This wine is full and rich with flows of silken black cherry and purple raspberry, dark chocolate and sous bois, a beautiful stony interior wafted through with herb smoke.

“One of the top vintages for this cuvée” 94pts WA