Clos Saint Jean, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, La Combe des Fous

Lush, rich, and intense, the wine is full-bodied, deep, and packed with dark red fruits, flowers, spice, pepper, and garrigue. The long, flamboyant, fruit-packed finish is almost too much of a good thing. Drink from 2028-2042.

2023 vintage

Huge nose of ultra ripe red cherries and strawberries, sandalwood, leather, BBQ meat, spicy garrigue... Incredible concentration of ultra sweet tannin, loads of ripe sappy cherries, very delicious, legth of 60 sec!!

2023 vintage

Very salty cherries nose, noyau de cerise, red berries… Sweet black and red salty cherries, nice rounded tannin, length 30 sec.

2021 vintage

Decanted but not necessary. Light fruit, nice earth and spice. Good tannins. Long finish. Great wine. Probably will not hold remaining bottle much longer.

2012 vintage

Deep ruby in glass. Medium to medium plus intensity on the nose. Ripe mulberry, strawberry, cherry, plums, and Christmas cake. Medium acidity and medium to medium plus tannins. Fresh and well balanced. The heat was a little evident to warrant a higher score. Overall a very well made wine.

2021 vintage

On point from magnum. Wonderful

2012 vintage

Excellent. Cool and concentrated red fruits along with licorice and herbs. Minute+ finish with relatively smooth tannins considering the age. Can’t have enough of this.

2021 vintage

On point. At peak. Fruit hasn’t faded, raspberry, bright floral nose, more muted earth

2012 vintage

This was good, but not in the same league as the 07 Deus Ex Machina from the day prior; this was more robust and darker, very powerful, more tannins, but less overall balance; still quite good and has room to improve for sure.

2012 vintage

Juicy black raspberry, cherry coulis, star anise and sweet spice. Very pure Grenache-dominated fruit and still quite structured with sleek tannins. Spicy yet a bit uninteresting with cola-infused sweet finish. Seductive CNDP. 93+

2012 vintage

One of my favorite CdP producers. I opened this alongside a buddy’s 2009 CSJ Deus Ex Machina and it was really intriguing to see the differences. 60 Grenache/20 Syrah/remainder a blend. Quick bottle decant before diving in. While ready to go, an hour full-decant would probably be a good call at this stage, but not required. Where the Ex Machina was more high toned and layered (thanks to the blend), this was more up-front and plush. Violets and spiced berry …

2012 vintage

Expressive and layered on the nose - lots of dark fruit, spices, smoke, licorice. On the palate very concentrated and ripe. Well integrated acidity, unobtrusive tannins. Very long with noticeable alcohol towards the finish. Drink or keep. 92-94

2012 vintage

95 ish From La Crau, Fous (Mads, Crazy ) is named after crazy big rolled stones, and gravels... 60 % very old Grenache from 1905, 25 % Syrah and 15 others ... Nose is oaky but fades away quite quickly, with a bright and exquisite fruit profile, intense and full ! Palate is deliciously fruity , bright and expressive, full, Long and complex, Not exactly my style of chateauneuf but still it is an impressive wine !

2021 vintage

Glass at one hour decant: Marvelous. Pepper, licorice, cherry with warm spices. Remarkably light on its feet. Glass at 4.5 hour decant: liked it better earlier! Still great. All the previous with fruit less prevalent and the pepper turning toward the white pepper realm and some smoked bacon. This is in a good spot. Will probably plan on my next bottle sometime in 2024 and will consume more quickly.

2012 vintage

Just like the 2018 vintage, i was skeptical of 2021 vintage due to botrytis caused by rains during harvest. Like those few exceptional ones in 2018, this 2021 was exceptional fine wine especially in the context drinking along with Rayas wines from 2009 and 2013 (separate notes will be added) along side. It has the signature profile of elegant and polished (ultra fine tannin) structure (as in the 2019) coupled with its beautiful floral aromatics (attributed to its unique blend) …

2021 vintage

Still plenty of stuffing here with a sweet core of kirsch. Relaxing just a little bit, approachable like the vintage, getting a more local feel with a sound spicyness, not as busy, as these can be. #pensiondanmark

2012 vintage

Nice nose of spices, black ripe cherries, cocoa... Very nice concentration, but nice freshness at the same time quite elegant for a Combe.

2021 vintage

Fantastic showing. Deep, spicy intense, chambord, licorice, garrigue, black pepper. Pure and driven, this has barely aged after a decade, but the fruit is stepped back just a little with a silky profile. Really lovely, prime drinking right now, still young but really showing vigor and energy.

2012 vintage

Well, I don't know. An enormous wine with enormous alcohol (16. proof) The latter burns at the throat, and in fact suppresses the secondary qualities that are there, but not really given the chance to emerge. One more glass of this and I'll be lying with my pug on the back lawn. Woof woof, Vide.

2012 vintage

Medium dark red; dark notes, raspberry, some licorice; very rich, quite gentle attack, a light expression which is quite surprising given 16% alcohol, some dryness in a quite pleasant way, it has a special touch and feminine expression, which I find intriguing; not an ordinary wine, not an ordinary CdP; long really tasteful aftertaste with lots of fruit and licorice

2012 vintage

16% ABV, blockbuster wine. Well done for the style, I guess, but a bit too much for me. And lacking any sense of place, as noted by Motz.

2012 vintage

Consistent with previous note(s) 92-94

2012 vintage

Ripe and super floral, candied raspberry liqueur, cherry coulis, liquorice snap with Mediterranean spice and herbs. Sweet hedonistic fruit with silky tannins, yet remains fresh, balanced and energetic. Irresistible CNDP.

2012 vintage

Intense, expressive, notes of blackberry and cherry preserve, Christmas spices, woodsmoke, liquorice, tobacco on the nose. On the palate quite a bit of heat, on day one a little out of whack, (much) better on day two. Very concentrated and powerful, ripe tannins, impressive length. 91-93

2012 vintage

Small pour served into Acker Zalto Burgundy glass (“Root” day): Medium ruby with orange tints. Red dates. Ripe bramble fruits. Ethereal floral spice. Good definition on palate. Good acidity. 93 points.

2012 vintage

Tremendous concentration, imparting an impression of density, in part on account of over-extraction. Considerable lumber...too much. This wine has Cambie's fingerprints all over it. Technically excellent, but tasting it alongside the same vintage, intensely earthy, Vieux Donjon left me hankering for expression of place.

2012 vintage

Too extracted for me

2012 vintage

Tuesday Night Double Blind $40+ (Bin 75 Alpharetta, GA) : Cloudy crimson maroon core with larger rim; sour plum, raspy, nori, cocoa, a bit awkward, some age; good intensity, classic CdP, glycerin, peppery finish.

2012 vintage

Pop and pour. Savory, saline CdP in modern style with dark fruit, lightly smoked meat, and with air some delicious melted leather.

2012 vintage

Delicious

2012 vintage

No pruny aftertaste this time, this is pure juice; rich and bold with loads of sweetnes from Grenache. Tannins are here cartainly, but the wine is true to the vintage in the sense, that it is both fruity and accesible. #LaCocotte

2012 vintage

Full, rich, dense, but not without terroir, garrigue et al. It has the fullness and juiciness of the 2012's and also hints (just very small hints) of prunes on the aftertaste: hopefully they will disappear with some aging, as this is definitely too young. #Haveselskabet. 93+

2012 vintage

A distinct and appealing terroir that features lavender, dried desert fruits, herbs, hot rocks, minerals, dry smoked slab bacon, sous-bois, an agreeable diesel-like element, and umami. Expansive and lively on the palate, and though an earthy wine, it features a suave feminine essence. Excellent balance, intriguing texture, rounded middle, gritty back, complex finish. Delicious!

2012 vintage

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Clos Saint Jean, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, La Combe des Fous

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