2015 Chateauneuf du Pape

Leading off the 2015s from bottle, the 2015 Châteauneuf-du-Pape sports a vibrant ruby color as well as an elegant, classic, pure style that just begs to be drunk. Garrigue, dried herbs, dried flowers, currants and kirsch-like aromas and flavors all emerge from this outstanding beauty that can be drunk today with plenty of pleasure or cellared for a decade. I’ve written so many glowing reviews on the wines of Clos Saint Jean I sometimes feel like a broken record. Nevertheless, this estate continues to go from strength to strength and has yet to make a misstep since I’ve been reviewing the wines. The estate makes five separate red cuvees: a traditional cuvee based largely on Grenache from all the estate parcels; a Vieilles Vignes cuvee that’s slightly more Grenache dominated and from older vines (this cuvee is only for the US Market); the Combe des Fous based on Grenache, Syrah and Vaccarèse; the Sanctus Sanctorum which is 100% Grenache all from a single parcel in the la Crau lieu-dit; and lastly the Deus Ex Machina which is a 60/40 split of Grenache and Mourvèdre. Any of the three special cuvees would suffice as a dessert island wine for yours truly.