2020 Roger Sabon “Prestige” Châteauneuf-du-Pape
96 Wine Advocate, 95 Jeb Dunnuck, 95 Vinous, 94 Wine Spectator, 93 Decanter. An outstanding showing for the vintage, with an average of 94.6 points across these critics.
Tasting profile: Deep and powerful, bursting with black raspberry, ripe cherry, blueberry, blackberry and plum, layered with garrigue, dried thyme, bay leaf, licorice, graphite, cured meat, violet and white pepper. Full-bodied and concentrated yet silky, with velvety tannins, lively acidity and a long, bold finish.
The blend is approximately 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, with the balance made up of traditional Châteauneuf-du-Pape varieties. Fruit comes from the Les Brusquières and Cabrières lieux-dits, on soils dominated by rolled stones and sand.
Bottom line: A serious, richly textured 2020 Châteauneuf-du-Pape—ripe and generous but balanced by freshness and savory Rhône complexity. Jeb Dunnuck called it one of the gems of the vintage, while Wine Advocate emphasized its unusual combination of density, richness and freshness.
Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider 92 Points
Smoke, tobacco leaf, flowers and dark cherries are there in spades on the nose and earthy, vibrant, fresh palate, that serves up a nice chocolate and pepper bite on the palate and the end of the finish. The wine was made blending 80% Grenache, 10% Syrah and 10% Mourvedre. Drink from 2022-2032.
Jebb Dunnuck 95 Points
The 2020 Chateauneuf Du Pape Prestige is a solid step up and brings another level of purity and precision. Based on [...], Grenache, [...] Syrah, and the rest a mix of permitted varieties, it has stunning aromatics of red and black fruits, roasted garrigue, spring flowers, and a hint of graphite. With full-bodied richness, moderate acidity, ripe, velvety tannins, and one heck of a great finish, it's one of the gems in the vintage.
Robert Parker Wine Advocate 96 Points
Black raspberries and flowers gently intertwine on the nose of the 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape Prestige, a Grenache-dominated blend drawn from the lieux-dits of les Brusquieres and Cabrieres. Full-bodied and silky, it's dense and rich yet finishes fresh, adding seemingly contradictory hints of dark chocolate.
