The 2004 Chateauneuf du Pape Prestige is a fabulous blend of 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 10% Mourvedre that was brought up all in foudre. A classic Chateauneuf du Pape, with garrigue, leather, underbrush and gorgeous Grenache-driven fruit all front and center, it is medium to full-bodied, perfectly balanced, and has good acidity and fine tannin that show on the finish. Drinking nicely, it should continue to evolve for another 4-6 years easily. These two superb efforts were made by Didier Negron, who’s the son-in-law of Jean-Jacques Sabon and started making the wines as of the 2001 vintage. Both are gorgeous wines, with the Cuvee Prestige more classic in style, and the Le Secret des Sabon slightly more elegant and perfumed, with big Grenache flair. The domaine can produce up to four red Chateauneufs du Papes and a white in any given vintage.

The outstanding 2004 Cuvee Prestige, as always, has gamey, kirsch liqueur notes, a dark plum/garnet color, full body, loads of flavor, and plenty of spice, herbs, new saddle leather, and meaty notes. It is rich, heady, and best drunk in its first 10-15 years of life. Jean-Jacques Sabon and his family run this renowned estate which is consistently one of the reference points of Chateauneuf du Pape. What is probably confusing for consumers is that there are four different Chateauneuf du Papes, but the first three are available in good commercial quantities, with only the Le Secret des Sabon a limited cuvee of under 200 cases.P.S. By the way, Jean-Jacques Sabon changed the upbringing of Le Secret des Sabon from some of the cuvee being aged in small oak barrels to 100% of it now aged in 600-liter demi-muids.Importer: Eric Solomon, European Cellars, Charlotte, NC; tel. (704) 358-1565