Clos Saint-Jean Chateauneuf du Pape La Combe des Fous 2021

Drink it now or cellar for up to 25 years. It is recommended to decant it for an hour. Clos Saint-Jean is an ancient estate located in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, in the Rhone Valley. It was founded in the early 1900s by Edmund Tacussel when there was not even an AOP designation for Chateauneuf du Pape wines. Today, the estate, which owns approximately 41 hectares of vineyards, is managed by brothers Vincent and Pascal Maurel, great-grandsons of Edmund, who practice sustainable agriculture in the vineyard and work their wines according to a modern style. Chateauneuf du Pape La Combe des Fous is a perfect blend of Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault and Vaccarese. The Grenache grapes come from vineyards that are over a hundred years old, which gives the wine great concentration and complexity of flavors. The vines are planted on sandy soils, which guarantee elegance and velvety tannins. After vinification, the Grenache rests for 9 months in concrete vats, while the other grapes rest in wood. In the glass, the wine offers a broad and complex aromatic profile with notes of black raspberry, pepper, and violet, followed by hints of Mediterranean herbs and some smokiness. On the palate, it is full-bodied and soft. It has good concentration and silky tannins. The finish is long and pleasantly refreshing. This is the ideal wine to pair with roast or grilled lamb, seasoned with herbs.

Price: £71.78 from 8wines UK