2019 Clos Saint-Jean Chateauneuf du Pape La Combe des Fous
100 JD / 94-96 WA
$123.89/bottle (In Stock - Limited) Buy Now
Starting off a trio of truly magical wines, the 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape La Combe Des Fous checks in as 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, and the rest Vaccarèse and Cinsault raised in tank and demi-muids. Sensationally pure cassis and blackberry fruits as well as complex notes of lavender, Provençal garrigue, ground pepper, and flowers all define this full-bodied 2019, which displays the vintage’s ripe, perfumed style while bringing more finesse, elegant, and purity than just about every other wine out there. It’s the finest vintage of this cuvée I’ve tasted and has another 15-20 years of prime drinking ahead of it.—Jeb Dunnuck
Plummy and chocolaty yet remarkably vibrant, the 2019 Chateauneuf du Pape La Combe des Fous comes across as richer and more powerful than the 2018. I'm not sure that's a good thing in this cuvée, as it's full-bodied, dense and a bit chunky at the moment—certainly enormously impressive, but without the elegance of the previous vintage. It will be interesting to see how it compares once it's in the bottle.—Joe Czerwinski, The Wine Advocate
2019 Clos Saint-Jean Chateauneuf du Pape Deus Ex-Machina
100 JD / 95-97 WA
$129.89/bottle (In Stock - Limited) Buy Now
$289.89/1.5L (In Stock) Buy Now
Also pure perfection in a glass, the 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape Deus-Ex Machina is a 60/40 split of Grenache and Mourvèdre, from tiny yields and the famed La Crau lieu-dit, that’s raised in a mix of concrete tanks and demi-muids. My notes on this wine were loaded with expletives and finishes with “awesome, just awesome.” Blackcurrants, kirsch liqueur, licorice, spiced meat, and Provençal garrigue all define this incredible achievement, and it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, remarkable purity, building, silky tannins, and a mammoth-sized finish. More Mourvèdre spice box and garrigue notes emerge with time in the glass, and while it has the fruit to offer pleasure now, it will benefit from a solid 4-5 years of bottle age and cruise for 20-25 years if stored correctly. Along with the 2007, 2010, and 2016, this is a legendary Châteauneuf du Pape. Hats off to the Maurel family and oenologue Philippe Cambie.—Jeb Dunnuck
Much like the La Combe des Fous, the 2019 Chateauneuf du Pape Deus Ex Machina seems denser and more concentrated and powerful than the more elegant 2018. Purple fruit and dark chocolate retain a remarkable degree of freshness in this full-bodied, velvety-textured and arguably over-exuberant puppy. There's tremendous material here, compressed into a potent ball of vinous energy that I expect will develop some more nuance and elegance over time.-- Joe Czerwinski, The Wine Advocate
2019 Clos Saint Jean Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes
95 JD / 93-95 WA
$53.89/bottle (In Stock) Buy Now
$109.89/1.5L (in stock) Buy Now
A bigger, richer wine, the 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape Vieilles Vignes has a similar style in its peppery garrigue, lavender, scorched earth, and licorice aromatics. It’s slightly darker fruited than the base cuvée and has a rock star of a mid-palate, building, sweet tannins, and a great finish. It’s one stunning bottle of wine to drink over the coming 10-15 years.—Jeb Dunnuck
Intoxicating scents of ripe plums, dried spices and dark chocolate emerge on the nose of the 2019 Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes, a rich, full-bodied effort that's undeniably impressive as a pre-bottling sample. Dense and concentrated, it somehow manages to retain a sense of freshness, perhaps the influence of the long, anise-tinged finish.—Joe Czerwinski, The Wine Advocate
