Structure

Bodyfull
Tanninhigh
Aciditymedium
Sweetnessdry
Oaknew oak

Drinking window

Best 8 to 30 years from vintage.
vintage8 yrs30 yrs32 yrs

Critic scores

No critic score is published for this bottle that we can cite with a reviewer, a vintage and a review year, so none is shown. The rating in the header is our own.

In the glass

Full-bodiedHigh tanninMedium acidityDryVery Long finish

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.

How to serve Clos Saint-Jean Deus-Ex Machina

Allow 95 minutes from open to pour.

  1. Open and decant. Open 90 minutes before serving and pour into a decanter to aerate.
  2. Serve at 16-18°C. Cellar temperature (16-18°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
  3. Glassware. Use a large Bordeaux-style glass: the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
  4. Pair with. Venison loin with black truffle, Braised oxtail with roasted root vegetables. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.

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 2003 heat vintage

Facts

Producer
Clos Saint-Jean · visiting guide
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

Frequently asked about Clos Saint-Jean Deus-Ex Machina

What does Clos Saint-Jean Deus-Ex Machina taste like?

On the nose, blackberry reduction, fig paste, roasted coffee, smoked chocolate, iron. On the palate, massive dark fruit, liquorice, dried herb, chewy tannins, extraordinary length. Structurally full-bodied, high tannins, medium acidity with a very long finish. An extraordinarily powerful, densely concentrated Chateauneuf with coffee, dark fruit, and iron; a long-ageing prestige cuvee made in exceptional years only.

When should I drink Clos Saint-Jean Deus-Ex Machina?

Drink 8-30 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.

What food pairs with Clos Saint-Jean Deus-Ex Machina?

Venison loin with black truffle is the canonical pairing; Braised oxtail with roasted root vegetables is the other strong match. Massive structure demands equally intense food; truffle and game are natural.

What grapes are in Clos Saint-Jean Deus-Ex Machina?

The blend is Grenache (80%), Mourvedre (10%), Syrah (10%). The wine is classified as Chateauneuf-du-Pape AOC.

Tags

cellar worthy cult wine dry full body grenache high tannin medium acid mood bold mood contemplative mourvedre occasion cellar occasion gift occasion special old vines old world pairs with game pairs with red meat pairs with truffles price fine still red syrah

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