Chateauneuf du Pape La Combe des Fous Clos St Jean 2023 (750ML)

Finesse is the point of La Combe des Fous, though there is real power and density behind it. Clos St Jean blends 60% Grenache with 20% Syrah, filling out the final 20% with Cinsault and Vaccarèse. Black raspberry and spring blossom lead, then cracked pepper, Provençal spice and a savory, meaty note. Medium- to full-bodied, it has ripe, seamlessly integrated tannins and a multi-dimensional palate that carries into a long finish. The estate is run by the Maurel brothers, and this cuvée sits alongside the Deus Ex Machina and the magnum-only Sanctus among its top reds. Critics suggest two to four years of patience, with the wine opening around 2027 and drinking through 2042. Pour it alongside herb-roasted guinea fowl, ratatouille, merguez or a slow-cooked lamb tagine.