Clos Saint Jean La Combe des Fous Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2017

Clos Saint Jean La Combe des Fous Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2017 is a remarkable Southern Rhône red built around old-vine Grenache from the stony La Crau sector. The cuvée takes its name from a hillside once thought too difficult to cultivate, where the estate's family established vines more than a century ago. This is a wine of scale and depth, but also fragrance, freshness and impressive detail.

Tasting Notes

Appearance

Deep ruby-red with garnet tones, reflecting a richly concentrated Southern Rhône blend.

Aroma

Ripe raspberry, black cherry and kirsch open into a layered perfume of Provençal herbs, white flowers, pepper and warm spice. Hints of mineral earth and liquorice bring further complexity as the wine opens in the glass.

Palate

Generous and velvety, with concentrated red berries and cherry fruit balanced by savoury spice and mineral freshness. There is considerable power, yet the tannins are finely shaped and the fruit retains brightness. The Grenache-led blend is supple and expansive, with Syrah and the estate's complementary Rhône varieties bringing additional dimension.

Finish

Long, elegant and persistent, with lingering cherry, pepper, floral lift and savoury minerality.

Food Pairing & Serving

Pair with slow-roasted lamb, beef rib, duck confit, a Provençal stew or a mushroom-rich dish. Serve slightly cool at 15–16°C. If the bottle is at room temperature, give it 20–30 minutes in the fridge before opening. Decant for one to two hours before serving and pour into large-bowled glasses to give the kirsch and herbal aromas room to open.

Vineyards & Winemaking

La Combe des Fous draws on old Grenache vines in the stony La Crau area. For this cuvée, the estate lists 60% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 10% Cinsault and 10% Vaccarèse, with the Grenache drawn from a low-yielding vineyard planted in 1905. The fruit is picked and sorted by hand, and the free-run juice is kept separate from the press juice. Grenache matures in concrete for nine months, while the other varieties spend nine months in new barrels. The estate publishes these specifications for the cuvée as a whole.