"Clos Saint-Jean is one of the preeminent modern estates in Chateauneuf-du-Pape today. Pascal and Vincent Maurel have run the estate since 1991. Originally, they made rather rustic wines at the family estate, but over time they modernized and eventually hired the famed Philippe Cambie as their consultant enologist. . ."
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| | Spectacular Rarities from One of Châteauneuf's Finest
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| | | Clos Saint-Jean is one of the preeminent modern estates in Châteauneuf-du-Pape today. Pascal and Vincent Maurel have run the estate since 1991. Originally, they fashioned rather rustic wines at this family estate, but they swiftly modernized their methods and later hired the famed Philippe Cambie as their consultant enologist. Since then, the wines have received extraordinary accolades and scores from distinguished critics around the world.
The estate, which was founded in 1900, is one of the oldest still operating in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Edmund Tacussel, the Great-Great-Grandfather of Vincent and Pascal began estate bottling in 1910, fully thirteen years before the development of the Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC. The estate covers approximately 48 hectares, with about half being situated in the esteemed La Crau vineyard. This outstanding vineyard site is blanketed with the famous galets (large round stones) on top of iron-rich red clay, which allows for exceptional drainage and heat retention to develop ideal maturity and ripeness.
The Combe de Fous 2018 is comprised 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, with the rest Vaccarèse and Cinsault from vines planted primarily in 1905. Combe de Fous translates to the 'valley of the fool,' which is a reference to the Maurel brothers' great-great-grandfather who planted Grenache at the far southern tip of La Crau. The layer of galets on this plot is so thick and the process was so painstaking that none of the other growers thought the Grenache vines could survive, hence the name.
The Deux Ex Machina 2018 is approximately 60% Grenache coming from La Crau and 40% Mourvèdre coming from very old plantings in the Bois-Dauphin vineyard near Château Rayas. The Grenache sees its elevage in concrete while the Mourvèdre is aged in used demi-muids (600L barrels). Both this cuvée and the Combe de Fous are limited to approximately 500 cases per year.
The Sanctus Sanctorum 2018 is an incredibly special wine which is sees its elevage in one single demi-muid and is only bottled in Magnum. It is a very particular selection of 100% Grenache from some of the oldest and most prized vines in La Crau.
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"The star of the show in 2018 is the 2018 Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Combe Des Fous, which has an incredible mix of complexity, power, and elegance that’s something to behold. Sporting a deep purple/plum color as well as a killer bouquet of blackcurrants, lavender, peppery garrigue, graphite, and white chocolate, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a seamless, multi-dimensional texture, incredible tannins, and a gorgeous finish. This is as good as 2018 gets, and while it’s already impossible to resist, it’s going to evolve . . ."Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com |
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"Another terrific effort from this estate, the 2018 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Deus Ex Machina shares a sense of elegance with its vintage stablemate, the La Combe des Fous. Kirsch, stone fruit, black cherries, licorice, pomegranate…the list could go on and on. And while the wine is undeniably full-bodied, it doesn't come across as heavy or hot, instead being built on a lacy, silky structure of fine tannins and rounded acids that linger on the finish."
Joe Czerwinski, The Wine Advocate |
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"The tiny production 2018 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Sanctus Sanctorum comes from a single parcel in the famed La Crau lieu-dit and is brought up in demi-muids. Released only in magnum, it’s consistently been one of the most singular, brilliant expressions of Grenache in any vintage that's been produced. The 2018 isn’t going to break that trend . . . Revealing a translucent ruby hue as well as a glorious bouquet of kirsch liqueur, ground pepper, cured meats, candle wax, garrigue, and Provençal spice, this beauty hits the palate with full-bodied richness as well as a seamless, Grand Cru Burgundy-like mouthfeel that carries sensational richness yet no sense of heaviness or weight. With no hard edges, beautiful tannins, flawless balance, and a great, great finish. . ."
Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com |
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