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Winemaker: Thierry Sabon
Despite the almost three decades we’ve partnered with this outstanding family estate, it still dazzles us how perfectly each bottle of Mont-Olivet captures the true soul of Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
Clos du Mont-Olivet is “old school” Chateauneuf, a noble blend of the region’s 13 native grapes done elegantly, aromatically and above all harmoniously. Winemaker Thierry Sabon is one in a long line of winemakers from the heart of the southern Rhone who has ably—not without a few upgrades of his own—carried the torch of the Sabon family domaine.
Lower yields, more dynamic blending and earlier bottling—all improvements that we support—means that these wines are fresher, more exciting and more alive than they ever have been. While Sabon certainly respects the traditions set by his father and grandfather before him (we hope you have some older bottles of Mont-Olivet Châteauneuf in your cellars—each vintage, even from lesser years, is extraordinary), he has not shied away from taking a hard look at the family vineyards, to see how best to frame each extraordinary plot the Sabons have tended for generations. The result of such savvy is seriously impressive wines that have few peers in the southern Rhône or elsewhere.
Each vintage we team up with Thierry to select wines for our Châteauneuf “Cuvee Unique.” Many years our special cuvée has a little bit of the family’s top, older-vine blend, “Cuvee du Papet,” added as well. “Papet” is named for Joseph Sabon, Sr., (papet means grandpa) and is a selection of the finest lots in the cellar, acknowledged by many to be one of the most age-worthy, fascinating wines produced in the appellation.
You don’t often see Côtes du Rhône wines dedicated to a single grape, which makes Thierry’s two exclusive cuvees especially unique. His “Serre de Catin” is a 100% Grenache wine, pure and fruity with a virtual injection of spice and southern French garrigue. “Varene” is his 100% Syrah that reminds us of a northern Rhône-styled Syrah in its aromatics and elegance, pumped up with a bit of southern Rhône juicy muscle.