ROGER SABON | Châteauneuf-du-Pape | Réserve | 2022
grenache | syrah | mourvèdre

© We will be evaluating wines in no particular order on no particular schedule. Just stay tuned and you will never miss our reviews. If the wine is tasted more than once, the rating table will be updated so as to reflect all the new impressions and observations. We hope you will enjoy it!

Domaine Roger Sabon stands as a benchmark producer in the historic Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation. Though officially established in 1952 by Roger Sabon, the family’s roots in the region trace back to 1540. Today, the estate is a true family affair, guided by Roger’s sons, Denis and Gilbert, while the winemaking was entrusted to Didier Négron, son-in-law of the late Jean Jacques Sabon. Their philosophy blends respect for tradition with meticulous attention to detail, aiming to craft wines that express both, power and elegance.
Today we are are going to review a genuine Châteauneuf-du-Pape wine blend, which is one of France‘s most famous appellations, situated in the Southern Rhône valley – Châteauneuf-du-Pape Réserve 2022 by Domaine Roger Sabon. This wine strikes a perfect balance between traditional local viticulture and modern winemaking practices – a harmonious blend of grenache (80%), syrah (10%) and mourvèdre (10%), where grenache forms the wine’s main body and structure, syrah adds more color depth and tannin extract, while mourvèdre delivers up-front richness and creates a leaner and a more dynamic finish.

Châteauneuf-du-Pape is one of the mot famous french wine appellation, situated in the south of the Rhône wine region, known mostly for its bold red blends (usually grenache-based wines, blended with syrah, mourvèdre and cinsault). The region makes both, red and white wines, with up to 13 different grape varieties making the final blend (unofficially there are up to 20 varieties). Situated in the south of the Rhône Valley, close to the border of Provence, Châteauneuf-du-Pape was in fact the very first wine appellation in France, created in 1936 and considered up to present days to be the benchmark of the Southern Rhône‘s wines. Its name translates into english as the ‘pope’s new castle’, and refers to a time when the seat of the Roman Catholic Church was in Avignon (between 1309–1377).

The grapes were sourced from the vines grown on clay and limestone-rich soils, which are typical of the region. The 2022 vintage in the region was characterized by extreme warmth and dryness, leading to concentrated grapes with ripe phenolics and considerable intensity. The grapes were hand picked and destemmed, followed by a temperature-controlled fermentation and a month-long maceration applied to extract color, flavor, and tannins.  In order to soften the tannins and add a layer of extra complexity to the final blend, the wine has been aged for 18 months in a combination of large oak casks (40 hl), oak vats (25 hl) and oak barrel (600 liters), with additional bottle ageing before it was deemed ready for release.

The Southern Rhône region is characterized by a mediterranean climate, with hot & dry summers and mild winters, where the Mistral winds play a key role in keeping vineyards dry and disease-free. The terrain is more expansive and rolling compared to the steep slopes of the Northern Rhône, with vineyards spread across varied soils, including clay, limestone, sand, and the distinctive galets roulés – large, rounded stones that retain heat and aid in grape ripening. This diverse terroir supports a wide range of grape varieties, with Grenache being the region’s hero variety, often blended with Syrah and Mourvèdre to produce the region’s signature GSM red blends. These wines are known for their richness, spiciness, and bold flavors.
The Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation is one of France’s the most prestigiouswine regions. The region is filled with large, round quartzite stones, called galets roulés, which absorb heat during the day and radiate it back at night, thus keeping the vines warm. Beneath these stones lie an abundance of clay and sandy soils that retain moisture and encourage deep root systems. These unique traits imbue the Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines that power, elegance, and remarkable aging potential that they are famous for. The region allows 13 different grape varieties in its blends — but if you count color variants (like Grenache Blanc vs. Grenache Noir), it’s actually 18 – few producers use them all, but it makes for some fascinating diversity.

color: medium-deep ruby color
clarity: hazy ruby shades at the rim

In the glass, the wine displays a vibrant, medium-deep ruby color, with hazy ruby shades towards the rim, hinting at its youth and concentration.

intensity: pronounced & oaky-expressive
fruit character: ripe & dehydrated

On the nose the wine is rich and expressive, marked by a ripe to dehydrated fruit character, with a fruity-explosive accent. The foreground is dominated by a cascade of black fruits – dark cherry, aronia berry, black plum, blackcurrant, and ripe blackberry – interwoven with distinct oak-derived nuances of liquorice, cloves, tobacco leaf, and toasted oakwood. Subtle hints of new leather add even more complexity, layered by delicate earthy notes, reminiscent of dust, pencil lead, crushed granite, and slate, alongside spicy hints of peppercorn and anise in the background, adding depth and intrigue.

sweetness: dry | acidity: medium+ | alcohol: high | tannin: high | balance: good
finish: long & lasting | aftertaste: heady-astringent

On the palate, the wine feels bold, heady, and firm, with a powerful, fruit-forward accent. It delivers a well-structured mouthfeel, managing to blend sheer power with emerging elegance. The texture is marked by ripe and grippy tannins that contribute to a seedy and pleasantly-astringent finale. The wine is dry, with crisp acidity that lends vibrancy despite the richness, and an overwhelming touch of alcoholic warmths.

maturity: developing | drink now or age for at least 3 to 5 years
verdict: great | a benchmark wine | a wine that has all the traits to become legendary

Overall, this is a complex, muscular, and full-bodied wine – a textbook Châteauneuf-du-Pape blend, crafted in an expressive, new world style. While fruit and oak-derived notes dominate the wine’s profile, there are subtle hints of its the wine’s terroir, with some dusty-graphite notes in the background. This wine is still developing, although approachable now, it reveals hints of the future elegance that the best of the Rhône wines achieve with time. We would recommend to cellar it for at least 3 to 5 years, in order to allow its components to integrate further and reveal greater nuance.

The wine’s bold structure and concentrated fruit call for robust food pairings. Consider matching it with rich, savory dishes that can stand up to the wine’s intensity. A classic pairing would be braised lamb shank infused with rosemary and garlic – the wine’s tannins will cut through the richness of the lamb, while its dark fruit and herbal notes complement the dish’s flavors, elevating the whole wine tasting experience.
ROGER SABON | Châteauneuf-du-Pape | Réserve | 2022
variety: grenache | syrah | mourvèdre
country: France
region: Rhône Valley | Châteauneuf-du-Pape
rating: 95.5

The name Châteauneuf-du-Pape literally translates as “The Pope’s New Castle.” It dates back to the 14th century when Pope Clement V (originally from Bordeaux) moved the papal seat to Avignon. His successor, Pope John XXII, was a wine lover who had a summer residence built in Châteauneuf and actively encouraged viticulture in the region.

© The WineStatistics ratings are based solely on our own knowledge of the world of wine and on our personal wine tastes, which may, or may not, differ from yours – the reader. Just remember that there are no absolutes of right and wrong in wine appreciation. Cheers!