Janasse Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes 2021

96 points Joe Czerwinski (Wine Advocate): "The advantages of old vines are perhaps most evident in the more difficult vintages (whether hot and dry or cool and rainy). The 2021 Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes is a strong effort, delivering supple, velvety waves of ripe black cherries and black raspberries. Medium to full-bodied, it's rich and concentrated without seeming at all heavy or unbalanced, finishing long and juicy. It's approximately 75% Grenache, 15% Mourvèdre, 5% Syrah and 5% other varieties, keeping in mind that up to 15% of the old Grenache vines are actually Clairette Rose. Drink: 2024-2040. (5/16/24)"

95 points Matt Walls (Decanter): "Pure, medium-bodied, with a lovely fine texture that's beautifully velvety. Certainly no lack of ripeness in fruit or tannin, which are plentiful but fine, ripe and succulent, and the finish is long. Alcohol is slightly raised but it suits the wine. Good balance, freshness and texture, it's restrained but not ungenerous. Partly destemmed, fermented in concrete, matured for 12 months in foudre and demi-muid. Drinking Window: 2028-2039. (Oct 2022)"

95 points Nicolas Greinacher (Vinous): "The 2021 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes is made from vines aged between 80 and 100 years. The 2021 Vieilles Vignes wafts from the glass with expressive aromas of redcurrant, red and black cherry, raspberry, strawberry, tobacco leaves, garrigue and a pinch of white pepper. Full-bodied, concentrated and wrapped in plush tannins. Fresh acidity balances it ahead of a quite complex finish. Drink: 2025-2040. Drink: 2025-2038. (Jun 2023)"

94 points Jeb Dunnuck: "Lastly, the 2021 Châteauneuf Du Pape Vieille Vignes is one of the top wines in the vintage. Mostly Grenache (15% Mourvèdre and 5% Syrah) that saw one-third stems, it offers a Burgundian bouquet of black cherries, redcurrants, peppery herbs, graphite, and chalky minerality. Medium to full-bodied, balanced, and elegant, it has fine tannins, beautiful purity of fruit, and outstanding length. It's hard to resist today yet will benefit from just a year or two of bottle age and have over a decade of prime drinking. Drink: 2024-2035. (10/30/23)"

94 points Wine Spectator: "[$125 list] A silky, svelte style, this is expertly reined in by an iron frame of firming mineral energy. Boasts black tea, tar, fresh tobacco and salted cured meat notes that bring savory details, complementing attractive violet, incense and black raspberry paste accents. Vibrant and structured, this is a well-crafted wine that is both seductive and serious. Packs a menthol kick on the long finish. Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre. Drink now through 2032. (12/31/23)"

***(*) John Livingstone-Learmonth (The Cradle of The Rhône): "(80% Grenache, 10-20% Syrah, 10-13% Mourvèdre, 0-5% Cinsault from 50% sand, 50% clay & galet stone soils on La Gardiole (N-E), La Janasse (N-E), La Font du Loup (N-E), 80% destemmed, 21-28 day vinification, daily manual cap punchings, aged 80% vat or large barrel (Grenache), 20% new-1-2 year oak casks (Syrah, Mourvèdre) 12 months, raised vat 6 months, fined, unfiltered, 10-22,000 b). dark red; the bouquet is calm and collected around black berry fruit, has a sweet herbal tone, a little perfume. The palate is starting to drink openly on the attack, carries soft richness that rolls out steadily, gives a little iron through it, but the finish is pinched for now, a tarry note on the aftertaste that needs time to sort through. From late-2024, decant it. 2042-44 Oct 2022."