Domaine du Clos Saint Jean   Chateauneuf du Pape Deus Ex Machina

2005 Chateauneuf du Pape Deus Ex Machina

By Domaine du Clos Saint Jean

2005 Chateauneuf du Pape Deus Ex Machina from Domaine du Clos Saint Jean, Rhone

Poised engagingly at the pinnacle of Rhone, the 2005 Chateauneuf du Pape Deus Ex Machina from Domaine du Clos Saint Jean hails from a vintage that resonates power and purity in equal measure. A perfect symphony of Grenache and Mourvèdre, this particular offering demonstrates both the exceptional character of its vintage and an elegant defiance of traditional expectations.

 

The 2005 Vintage: When austerity meets grace

The year 2005 was marked by a triumphant combination of a warm spring and favourable summer, resulting in a harvest that was both robust and alluring. This climatic interplay has given the 2005 Chateauneuf du Pape Deus Ex Machina a remarkable depth of flavour, striking an adequacy between austerity and grace. It’s an investment-worthy example of fine wine at its most intriguing.

Striking in its complexity, this wine showcases the best of Rhône’s terroir, with dark berry fruits interwoven with notes of black licorice and hints of truffle undertones. The significant tannic structure enhances the wine's visible depth and amplifies its aging potential.

 

A Symphony of Flavours: A promising investment

Fruit intensity is perfectly harmonized with acidic balance in this wine, creating an intricate blend that magnifies the unique characteristics inherent to Grenache and Mourvèdre grapes. Quintessentially a well-textured masterpiece, it commands attention as a fine wine investment not merely for its current enthralling character but also its potential to develop further complexity over time.

Approachable yet profound, the 2005 Chateauneuf du Pape Deus Ex Machina embraces the evident dialogue between grace and grit. Its robust structure, complex flavour profile, and long-term potential underscores the persuasiveness this vintage carries in the world of fine wine investment. A melodrama of flavours indeed that triumphantly unveils the brilliance of Rhône's terroir.

Market price (CAD)

$4,570.00

12x75cl

Highest score

100

POP score

137

Scores and tasting notes

100

I’ve been lucky enough to have the 2005 Chateauneuf du Pape Deus ex Machina numerous times over the past year, and while still youthful, it’s starting to shows hints of evolution and secondary nuances. Cassis, crushed rocks, graphite, beef blood and iron-like aromas and flavors are all present here, and it offers incredible depth and richness on the palate, with gorgeous purity, masses of tannin and a rock-star finish. A wine that could make you run out of adjectives, it too is another wine that goes flying off the scale. Since taking control of the estate in 2002, and bringing on board rock star consultant Philippe Cambie, the Maurel brothers has been knocking it out of the park in literally every vintage. 2004? Gorgeous wines and easily at the top in a recent retrospective. The cooler, rainy 2008? Beautiful ripeness and texture, and again, at the top of the hierarchy. 2011 is the same story, and it’s amazing what this team has accomplished in all of their vintages. Looking at this retrospective, we went through all of their cuvees going back to 2003. Unfortunately, there’s no new information here, and this tasting simply confirmed what myself and Robert Parker have been saying for some time now; Clos Saint Jean is at the top of their game and producing some of the most singular, hedonistic and brilliant wines in the world. Starting out with the classic Chateauneuf du Pape, it’s normally a blend of 75% Grenache, with the balance a mix of Syrah, Mourvedre, Cinsault, Muscardin and Vaccarese. As is common at this estate, the Grenache is aged all in tank, and the other varieties in a mix of tank and barrels. While I think this cuvee always lags the Vieilles Vignes bottling, it is consistently outstanding and always a super value. Moving to the old vine cuvee, this is made especially for the US Market and is 85% tank aged, old vine Grenache, and the balance Syrah and Mourvedre. It too almost always represents a crazy value and has a broad drink window. I’m currently finishing up a case of the ’08, and purchased two cases of the 2010, which is just starting to open back up after closing down shortly after release. As to the Combe des Fous release, this cuvée comes from a single plot of vines and is based largely on Grenache, with roughly 20% Syrah and 10% each of Vaccarese and Cinsault in the blend. The Grenache is aged all in tank and the other components see time in mostly demi-muids. While the Deux ex Machina always impresses more with its overt power and muscle, this cuvee always seems more polished, fine and elegant to me. One of the greatest cuvees on earth, the Maurel brother’s Sanctus Sanctorum is 100% Grenache that comes from a single plot of vines in the La Crau lieu dit. Aged all in demi-muid, it’s been one of the greatest wines I’ve ever tasted, every time I’ve tasted it. All three of these were sheer perfection on this occasion, yet each has its own unique profile. Lastly, and always the most powerful of the cuvees, the Deus Ex Machina is a blend of 60% tank aged Grenache and 40% demi-muid aged Mourvedre that all comes from 70-100 year old vines. The Mourvedre component is really what defines this cuvee, and it possesses the most obvious structure and mid-palate richness in the lineup. Seeming to hit maturity around age 10 or so, it can be consumed relatively early in its life due to its wealth of fruit, texture, and incredibly polished tannin. In addition, don’t miss this cuvee in the lighter vintages, as even their 2004 and 2008 show classic character and no shortage of richness. Importers: Eric Solomon, European Cellars, Charlotte, NC; tel. (704) 358-1565

Jeb Dunnuck - The Wine Advocate, 27 August 2014

Vintage performance