Roger Sabon’s Reserve is a beautiful in-between of the classically provenßale Les Olivets, redolent with dried herbs and bright red fruit, and Prestige, which is dense, structured, and darkly fruited. Didier’s Reserve is a blend of 80% Grenache with the remainder about equal parts Syrah & Mourv®dre but all from vines between 60 and 75 years old. It is sourced from the lieux dits of Montolivet (red clay and galets) and Les Bosquets (sand), which combines the power and structure of the former with a freshness and aromatic complexity of the latter.

The Sabon family is an ancient and well-regarded name in Ch¢teauneuf-du-Pape, first mentioned in documents dating to 1540. Perhaps not as venerable as the Ameniers of Domaine de Marcoux and Domaine Giraud, but still eminently respectable. Seraphin Sabon, a more recent patriarch of the family, first bottled wine in the appellation under the family’s name in 1921. He also fathered three very enterprising sons, all of whom established their own Domaines: Joseph Sabon at Clos du Mont Olivet, Noel Sabon at Chante Cigale, and Roger Sabon. The Sabons are like the Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young of the village. Domaine Roger Sabon was founded in 1952 and is currently run by Roger’s sons Denis and Gilbert. A third son, Jean-Jacques, is deceased, but his son-in-law Didier Negron is the current winemaker. Denis and his son Julien oversee the farming while Gilbert and his niece, Delphine, run the office. It is quite a family affair!

Proof/ABV: 15.5