2022 Cuvée Chaupin
Prestige subtitle: old-vine Grenache from the sandy heart of Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
Old-vine Grenache from cooler sandy parcels, with the aromatic lift and finesse that make Chaupin one of Janasse’s most distinctive reds.
sandy-soil Grenache
98 Decanter with a strong secondary 96 Jeb Dunnuck gives Chaupin immediate top-tier shelf credibility.
Why It Matters
Clear sell-in story. This is a named top cuvée from one of Châteauneuf-du-Pape’s best-known family estates: 100% Grenache, old vines, sandy soils, and a headline 98-point score.
Where it fits
Independent retail: easy fine-wine hand-sell. Restaurant: classic by-the-bottle Rhône with real pedigree. Upscale multi-unit: selective fit where staff can tell the Grenache story in one sentence.
Story
Family pedigree that helps sell. Founded when Aimé Sabon built his own cellar in 1973, Domaine de la Janasse has grown from 15 hectares to more than 90 and remains family-led by Christophe and Isabelle Sabon. Chaupin comes from cooler, late-ripening sandy terroirs, with some vines planted as early as 1912.
Why buyers can believe it
Janasse farms with an organic approach and vinifies by parcel, using partial destemming, gentle pigeage, and extended macerations before ageing in large-format oak.
Useful language on the floor: sandy-soil Châteauneuf means lift, perfume, and finesse—not just weight.
Estate + Region
Estate perspective
Why it helps: gives buyers a faster visual read on the estate behind Chaupin and supports the family-led, quality-first story.
Regional context
Why it helps: adds place-based context around southern Rhône terrain and reinforces why sandy-site Grenache reads differently in the glass.
At a Glance
- Varietal
- 100% old-vine Grenache
- Appellation
- Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France
- Terroir
- Cooler, late-ripening sandy parcels that give Chaupin its aromatic lift and finesse.
- Vine age
- Oldest referenced plantings date to 1912.
- Farming
- Organic approach; no pesticides or herbicides stated on the official estate site.
- Winemaking
- Parcel-by-parcel handling, partial destemming, gentle pigeage, and extended macerations.
- Élevage
- Large-format oak, including foudre and demi-muids, to keep texture polished without losing freshness.
- Style
- Perfumed red and black fruit, garrigue, licorice, crushed-stone lift, and silky, integrated tannins.
- Service
- Serve at 15–17°C / 59–63°F.
- Decant
- Helpful young; a short 30-minute splash decant is enough.
Trade Tools
One menu descriptor
Old-vine 100% Grenache from sandy Châteauneuf-du-Pape parcels; perfumed red fruit, garrigue, licorice, and a silky, long finish.
Service note
Best served cellar-cool. Large-bowled stems help the aromatics open quickly. Training note: Sell on finesse, not brute force: this is the aromatic, sandy-soil Janasse story.
Staff talking points
- Named top cuvée from the Sabon family’s benchmark Châteauneuf estate.
- Old-vine, sandy-soil Grenache: aromatic lift, silky tannin, and strong critical proof.
Placement cues
- Independent retail: fine-wine Rhône set, critic-featured shelf, or collector hand-sell.
- Restaurant: by-the-bottle slot beside lamb, game, or Provençal dishes.
Download list
- Buyer Letter PDF
- Bottle Shot PNG
- Restaurant Cheat Sheet
- 4×6 Horizontal Shelf Talker
- 4×6 Vertical Shelf Talker
Also useful: official technical data sheet.
Trade tools preview
A quick visual reference for buyers reviewing the downloadable sell-in assets.
Tasting + Pairings
Tasting note. Perfumed cherry and wild strawberry fruit meet garrigue, spice, and mineral lift. The shape is generous, but the impression is finesse-first.
Garlic Rosemary Grilled Lamb Chops
Why it works: the lamb’s richness handles the wine’s tannin, while rosemary and char echo the garrigue and spice.
Mediterranean-Style Leg of Lamb with Potatoes
Why it works: roast depth meets the wine’s concentration, and the dish’s herbs pull out Chaupin’s savory, stony side.
Also works well with … duck breast, herb-roasted chicken, grilled eggplant, or mushroom-driven dishes.
Channel Fit
Built around the channels most likely to convert quickly.
Independent Retail
High-recognition appellation, strong critic headline, and a clean old-vine Grenache story that staff can hand-sell in seconds.
Restaurant
Classic by-the-bottle Rhône with real pedigree, food affinity, and enough aromatic finesse to suit a sommelier-led conversation.
Large Retail
Score-led prestige and appellation familiarity work well in upscale fine-wine sets where Rhône already has a customer base.
Chain
Best where a buyer already supports premium imported Rhône or seasonal roast-and-lamb merchandising.
