2023 Clos Saint-Jean Chateauneuf-du-Pape - Six Bottles
2023 Clos Saint-Jean Chateauneuf-du-Pape - Six Bottles
The 2023 Clos Saint-Jean Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a beautifully layered Southern Rhône blend, combining Grenache richness with Syrah, Mourvèdre and rare varieties like Vaccarèse and Muscardin, delivering perfumed red fruits, garrigue, spice and a distinctive mineral backbone. It offers a polished, medium-to-full-bodied palate with fine tannins and remarkable balance, showing both immediate appeal and ageing potential through to 2040.
2023 Clos Saint-Jean Chateauneuf-du-Pape
Variety: Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Cinsault, Vaccarèse, Muscardin
Region of Origin: Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Southern Rhône
Tasting Notes
Deep ruby with a dark core; vibrant and youthful in appearance. The nose is expressive with kirsch, black cherry and blackberry; layered with garrigue, graphite and subtle spice. The palate is full-bodied and seamless; generous dark fruit sits alongside liquorice, pepper and dried herbs. Texture is velvety with fine tannins; the wine shows both richness and balance. A long, persistent finish carries savoury earth and spice; there is excellent depth with a polished, opulent style typical of top southern Rhône blends.
Winemaker and Winemaking
Clos Saint Jean is led by Pascal and Vincent Maurel; they transformed the estate into one of the benchmark producers of the appellation. A key influence was legendary consultant and oenologist, Philippe Cambie, whose philosophy emphasised ripe fruit expression, careful parcel selection and long macerations. Winemaking focuses on purity; Grenache is typically aged in concrete to preserve freshness while supporting varieties mature in large oak formats. This approach delivers wines of power, texture and balance, defining a modern yet terroir-driven Châteauneuf style.
The Vineyards
Clos Saint Jean can effortlessly be counted among the top houses of the appellation. This family-owned estate has benefited from application of modern techniques and equipment, with three recent vintages earning 100 points from Robert Parker. The estate was founded in 1900 by Pascal and Vincent’s grandfather Edmund Tacussel. Vineyards are centred around the famed La Crau plateau; characterised by galets roulés over clay and sand, delivering heat retention and structured, concentrated fruit. Old vines form the backbone of the blend. The Mediterranean climate, shaped by the mistral wind, ensures healthy fruit and balance. Today, the Domaine farms approximately 40+ hectares; combining historic parcels with modern precision viticulture.