Clos Saint-Jean Deus-Ex Machina

In the glass

Aroma: blackberry reduction, fig paste, roasted coffee, smoked chocolate, iron

Palate: massive dark fruit, liquorice, dried herb, chewy tannins, extraordinary length

An extraordinarily powerful, densely concentrated Chateauneuf with coffee, dark fruit, and iron; a long-ageing prestige cuvee made in exceptional years only.

What it pairs with

• Venison loin with black truffle
  Massive structure demands equally intense food; truffle and game are natural.
• Braised oxtail with roasted root vegetables
  Deep dark fruit and earthy iron match long-braised beef.

History

Clos Saint-Jean is a family estate run by Pascal and Vincent Maurel. Deus-Ex Machina was created in 2003 as an exceptional-vintage prestige cuvee from the estate's oldest Grenache vines, blended with Mourvedre and Syrah for additional structure and ageing potential.

1. 2003 — First vintage of Deus-Ex Machina; a response to the legendary 2003 heat vintage

Facts

Producer

Clos Saint-Jean

Grapes

Grenache (80%), Mourvedre (10%), Syrah (10%)

Classification

Chateauneuf-du-Pape AOC

Oak

30% new French oak barrique, remainder old foudres

ABV

15.5%

Price

EUR 150-300 at retail

Drinking window

8-30 from vintage

First vintage

2003

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