From Avignon: Châteauneuf du Pape Half-Day Wine Tour
Embark on a half-day wine tour from Avignon to Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Enjoy a scenic photo stop at the ruins of the Pope's summer residence, then visit two wineries for ...
Profile
Structure
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 above is our own.
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.More wines for venison →
- Braised oxtail with roasted root vegetables Deep dark fruit and earthy iron match long-braised beef.More wines for beef and red meat →
With cheese
How to serve Clos Saint-Jean Deus-Ex Machina
Allow 95 minutes from open to pour.
- Open and decant. Open 90 minutes before serving and pour into a decanter to aerate.
- Serve at 16-18°C. Cellar temperature (16-18°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
- Glassware. Use a large Bordeaux-style glass: the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
- 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.
- 2003First 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
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