2014 Clos Saint Jean, Chateauneuf du Pape Rouge, Vieilles Vignes, Rhone Valley, France.
Vincent Maurel’s beautiful and lush 2014 Chateauneuf du Pape old vines is cuvee blend of mostly Grenache, but with does of Syrah, Mourvedre, Cinsault, Vaccarèse and Muscardin as well, made grapes grown on the classic terroir, set on clay and limestone, with galets (the round stones that litter the vines, from plots in and around the famous Le Crau cru. The Grenache for this Chateauneuf is aged in only concrete vats for 12 months, while the remainder is aged in used demi-muids of French oak, from vines that are between 50 and 100 years old, hence the impressive mouth feel and concentration of this fantastic Clos Saint Jean. I absolute love this bottling for it’s purity and hedonism, it can only be Chateauneuf du Pape and it continues to be one of the best values for elite and stylish Chateauneuf, it’s a sexy and ultra reliable choice for the cellar! This dark and loaded Chateauneuf Rouge Vieilles Vignes unfolds in deep layers with a full bodied palate of boysenberry, plum and spicy cherry fruits along with violette/creme de cassis, minty licorice, lavender, liquid stones, fig paste and pepper notes, it’s an opulent wine, but has lovely detailing, a firmness of structure and the vintage’s lift allowing for a lighter impression that makes it a joy with food and like 1999 Chateauneufs, especially Vieux Telegraphe, also from La Crau, it should be a surprising ager as well, I wish I had more damn of it, best from now until 2028.
($45 Est.) 94 Points, grapelive
