Domaine du Clos Saint Jean   Chateauneuf du Pape la Combe des Fous

2015 Chateauneuf du Pape la Combe des Fous

By Domaine du Clos Saint Jean

2015 Chateauneuf du Pape la Combe des Fous from Domaine du Clos Saint Jean, Rhone

Revered by wine connoisseurs and investors alike, the 2015 Chateauneuf du Pape la Combe des Fous from Domaine du Clos Saint Jean offers a tantalising journey through a vintage standing distinctly apart from those that preceded it.

 

2015 - A Year That Carved Its Own Path

A powerful spectacle of what the Rhone region is capable of producing in an artful vintage, 2015 encompassed both warmth and depth into its creation of la Combe des Fous. The weather conditions were hot and dry, yet punctuated with necessary periods of fresh rainfall to balance the vintage’s flavour profile. Such climatic influence played a critical role in shaping this wine’s distinctive character, infusing it with phenomena that can only be spoken of as terroir-derived results.

The year 2015 brought forward a wine with exhilarating vigour, complex aromas, and an intensity that lures wine investors towards it. On tasting, one only solidifies the satisfaction linked to such a wisely-crafted investment.

 

Narrative Notes of Nature’s Craft

Upon uncorking, one is greeted with an invigorating cornucopia of scents - think ripe blackberries and plums underlaid with whispers of smoky minerals and rich spices. It's then a plunge into opulent flavours on the palate; juicy Grenache instilling delicious authenticity to this expressive Chateauneuf du Pape.

Underneath the luscious fruitiness lies an elegant minerality folded intricately into herbal spices. Every sip unravels the savoury qualities, with notes of spiced meat and earthy undertones adding a profound depth to its well-structured composition.

 

The Ultimate Expression of a Superior Vintage

The 2015 Chateauneuf du Pape la Combe des Fous from Domaine du Clos Saint Jean is undeniably an embodiment of splendid viniculture paired with the Rhone region's favourable weather influences. Pioneeringly intense, yet refined in its nuances, this vintage reveals subtle differences that set it apart in the timeline of la Combe des Fous iterations.

After all, it’s the delicate variances between good and excellent, similar and unique, that fuel the passions of discerning wine investors. In the world of fine vintages, the 2015 edition effortlessly condenses this wisdom into a bottle - an idiomatic toast to the exceptional yield from an astonishing year!

Market price (GBP)

£950.00

12x75cl

Highest score

93

POP score

73.08

Scores and tasting notes

93

A healthy 25% of this cuvée is Syrah aged in new oak, which impacts the aromas and flavors of the 2015 Chateauneuf du Pape La Combe des Fous in a substantial way. Baking spices and vanilla are apparent, but there are plenty of bold red-fruit flavors to balance them out. The one wobble is that the alcohol (a whopping 16%) shows through a bit on the finish. I'd opt for drinking this plush, voluptuous wine over the near term.

Joe Czerwinski - The Wine Advocate, 31 October 2017

Vintage performance