2005 Domaine de la Janasse Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape (8/26/2020)
A long time ago, in what seems like a galaxy far, far away, a dear friend gave me this bottle for Christmas. He passed a couple of weeks ago, but his memory, his humanity will be present with me to my last days. He loved wine. He was a gentle, kind soul. Tonight I opened the bottle, raising a glass to his memory, and enjoying the fruits of his labor as a wine merchant. It barely matters what the wine tasted like, though it was objectively delicious. It married the modern elements of prestige cuvée Châteauneuf (ripe, kirsch inflected fruit) with an earthiness and herbal element that felt like the genuine article. The longer the bottle was open, the more it showed its origins, moving from modern exemplar to terroir vehicle. Then, on the finish, it bounced back with ripe, red cherry, to end with a heartfelt smile. Farewell Joe. You gifted me with an extra memory. Any time I have a glass of Janasse I will think of you, treasure our friendship, and shed a tear.