Clos Saint Jean Chateauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes 2023 (750ml)

Price: $89.99

Qty:   Add to Cart

Quantity in Stock: 60

Producer	Clos Saint Jean
Country	France
Region	Rhone
Subregion	Southern Rhone (Chateauneuf-du-Pape)
Varietal	Red Rhone Blend
Vintage	2023
Sku	37576
Size	750ml

  

V

92

Deep purple-ruby in color, this wine opens with aromas of dark plum, ripe blackberry, and cherry, accented by violets, lilac, and touches of licorice and spice. The palate is powerful yet refined, offering a compelling balance of fruit and minerality, supported by vibrant acidity and tannins that carry through a long finish.

A blend of Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, Cinsault, Vaccarèse and Muscardin, the Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes is made from old vines located in and around Le Crau. The Grenache is aged in concrete for 12 months while the remainder is aged in demi-muid.

Clos Saint Jean is a 41 hectare estate in Châteauneuf-du-Pape run by brothers Vincent and Pascal Maurel. Considered by many critics and wine-writers as the preeminent estate espousing the modern style of winemaking in Châteauneuf, this cellar is one of the oldest in the region having been founded in 1900 by the great-great-grandfather of Vincent and Pascal, Edmund Tacussel. A short time after its founding and well before the AOP of Chateauneuf-du-Pape was created in 1923, Edmund began bottling estate wines in 1910.

The various vineyards of Clos Saint Jean are located primarily in the region of Le Crau. This plateau is perhaps the most iconic of the many terroirs of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, iron-rich red clays topped with galets. While about 60% of their vineyards are located here, specifically in the lieu-dits of Côteau de Saint Jean and Cabane de Saint-Jean, another 40% are located in alluvial clay and sandy soils adjacent to the plateau. They also own a small parcel of Mourvedre in the lieu-dit of Bois-Dauphin near Château Rayas planted on sandy, limestone-rich soils.

The farming at Clos Saint Jean is fully sustainable due to the warm and dry climate which obviates the need for chemical inputs. Vincent and Pascal employ organic methods for pest control, mainly pheromones to prevent pests from taking up Le Crau with Châteauneuf-du-Pape on the horizon.

The 2023 Châteauneuf-du-Pape shows well—perfumed, seductive and charming with glossy red fruits, garrigue and peppery accents. Full-bodied, polished and concentrated, the 2023 is a success that outperforms the 2021 vintage, though it doesn't quite reach the same lofty heights as the 2022 did last year. Drink: 2026-2036.