Domaine de la Janasse Cotes du Rhone Villages Terre d'Argile 2014

At a stone's throw from Chateauneuf-du-Pape, this wine comes from the beautiful land of pebbles and red clay north of the city of Courthezon. Between blackcurrant and tapenade, Terre d'Argile offers concentrated flavors, reminiscences of its famous neighbor. Dense and meaty, the mouth reveals deep and sweet ripe fruits on a persistent finish, which suggests a few good years of cellar aging. Serve within ten years on lamb chops.

40% Grenache, 40% Syrah, 30% Mourvedre. 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.