Domaine de la Janasse Cotes du Rhone Blanc 2013

Made with 50% Grenache, 15% Clairette, 15% Bourboulenc, 10% Viognier, 10% Roussanne. This Cotes du Rhone Blanc comes from a 20-acre vineyard, adjacent to the Chateauneuf-du-Pape vineyards. It is made from a blend of Grenache, Clairette, Bourboulenc, Viognier, and Roussanne. Dry and fruity, it is a perfect match to fish.

The estate was founded in 1976 by Aime Sabon, the father of Christophe and Isabelle, who still oversees the vineyards. The property consists of 99 acres, spread over as many as 70 different parcels throughout the appellation. While Aime works in the vineyards, his children, Christophe and Isabelle, are in charge of wine production. Christophe is a self-proclaimed "great defender of Grenache," which still represents 75% of their vines. With assistance from Aime and Isabelle, he manages the common rusticity of Grenache-based wines through meticulous work in the vineyards and cellar. The result is a wide range of rich and flavorful Chateauneuf-du-Papes, Cotes-du-Rhones, and Vins de Pays that are complex and balanced—often in contradiction to a region better known for sheer exuberance and power.