Clos Saint Jean (Wine Styles, 8 Best Bottles, Food Pairings)

Clos Saint Jean is a southern Rhone estate that’s been crafting exceptional red and white wines for over a century.

This family-owned winery lies in the Chateauneuf-du-Pape appellation and was founded by Edmund Tacussel in the 1900s. Today, it is managed by his descendants, Pascal and Vincent Maurel. 

Let’s discover everything about this beautiful winery, including it’s best wines, their investment potential, and food pairings. We’ll also look at its expansive vineyards and winemaking practices.

The Wine Styles of Clos Saint Jean

This French wine estate gained critical acclaim in the 2000s for its six signature wine styles:

• Clos Saint Jean Chateauneuf du Pape: A blend of Grenache (75%), Syrah (15%), Mourvedre (4%), Cinsault (3%), Vaccarese (2%), and Muscardin (1%) varietals
• Clos Saint Jean La Combe des Fous: Made from old vine Grenache (60%), Syrah (20%), Cinsault (10%), and Vaccarese (10%) grapes
• Clos Saint Jean Deus ex Machina: A blend ofGrenache (60%) and Mourvedre (40%) varietals
• Clos Saint Jean Sanctus Sanctorum: A pure varietal wine made with 100% Grenache
• Clos Saint-Jean Les Calades Rouge: A rare red blend of Grenache (60%) and Caladoc (40 %) varietals
• Clos Saint Jean Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc: The only white blend of the estate made of Grenache Blanc, Roussanne and Clairette

Let’s look at some of the best labels of this winery.

8 Exceptional Clos Saint Jean Wines to Buy in 2023

Here’s a list of our favorite Clos Saint Jean wines:

• 2007 Clos Saint-Jean Chateauneuf-du-Pape Sanctus Sanctorum
• 2012 Chimere Chateauneuf-du-Pape
• 2007 Clos Saint-Jean Deus-Ex Machina Chateauneuf-du-Pape
• 2007 Clos Saint-Jean Chateauneuf-du-Pape La Combe des Fous
• 2004 Clos Saint-Jean Chateauneuf-du-Pape
• 2016 Clos Saint-Jean Chateauneuf-du-Pape Blanc
• 2017 Clos Saint-Jean Chateauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes
• 2019 Clos Saint-Jean Les Calades Rouge

1. 2007 Clos Saint-Jean Chateauneuf-du-Pape Sanctus Sanctorum ($956)

This exquisite cuvee has firm tannin levels, balanced acidity and cherry, creme de cassis, and garrigue notes.

2. 2012 Chimere Chateauneuf-du-Pape ($946)

Here we have a Rhone Valley wine defined by a silky tannin mouthfeel and a nose of ground pepper and dried spices. It includes cherry, plum, and creme de cassis tasting notes.

3. 2007 Clos Saint-Jean Deus-Ex Machina Chateauneuf-du-Pape ($431)

Here’s an exceptional wine with a delightful sweet licorice and red fruit palate offset by an aroma of ground pepper and dried spices.

4. 2007 Clos Saint-Jean Chateauneuf-du-Pape La Combe des Fous ($316)

This vintage is made exclusively from old vine grapes and offers an addictive cassis, spice, and roasted herbs aroma. It is full-bodied, with a long finish and a palate of black cherry, black raspberry, and garrigue flavor notes.

5. 2004 Clos Saint-Jean Chateauneuf-du-Pape ($80)

This vintage wine has an effusive nose of sweet licorice, cassis, and roasted herbs with black cherry and black raspberry flavor notes.  

6. 2016 Clos Saint-Jean Chateauneuf-du-Pape Blanc ($63)

This white wine offers a bouquet of tropical fruit and herbaceous aromas balanced by a pleasant pineapple flavor.

7. 2017 Clos Saint-Jean Chateauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes ($56)

Here we have a remarkable red wine with ripe tannins and hints of kirsch, roasted herbs, and black raspberry notes.

8. 2019 Clos Saint-Jean Les Calades Rouge ($10)

Here’s a full-bodied red wine enhanced by the richness of spice, red fruit, and white pepper. It has balanced acidity and a long finish.

Investing in Clos Saint Jean Wine

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Like most Rhone Valley wines, Clos St. Jean has substantial aging potential ranging from 5 to 20 years.

The most sought-after Clos Saint Jean vintages include 2020, 2019, 2018, 2016, 2015, 2007, 2006, 2004, and 2003.

The best Clos Saint Jean wines have also shown consistent appreciation in value over the years. Between 2020 and 2021:

• The 2007 Clos St. Jean Chateauneuf-du-Pape grew by 112%, from $66 to $140.
• The 2016 Clos St. Jean Chateauneuf-du-Pape Sanctus Sanctorum appreciated in value by 40% from $300 to $422.

These wines have a prominent presence in many wine auctions too. For example:

• A magnum bottle of Clos Saint Jean Chateauneuf-Du-Pape Sanctus Sanctorum 2009 was sold for $544 at a Spectrum Wine Auction in December 2020.
• At a Skinner auction in June 2018, an assorted 4-bottle lot of Clos Saint Jean Chateauneuf du Pape Deus Ex Machina was sold for $1,046.

Let’s take a quick look at how to serve this wine and how it’s made.

Clos Saint Jean Wine Serving and Food Pairing 

Serve the Clos Saint Jean wine at 15.5 degrees Celsius to enhance its freshness.

The red blends of Clos Saint Jean greatly complement all kinds of classic meat dishes, Asian dishes, and fish courses.

The white wine works well with seafood such as shellfish, lobster, sushi, and Asian cuisine. 

Clos Saint Jean Vineyards and Winemaking 

More than half of the 44-hectare vineyard lies on the La Crau plateau in France. 1 hectare of the plantation is dedicated to growing the white wine grapes.

The terroir is partly stony (60%) with some sandy and clayey soil deposits. 

The winemaker practices sustainable farming in the vineyard. This southern Rhone winery also pioneered several modern winemaking techniques. 

During vinification, the harvested grapes are destemmed and macerated. The red varieties are fermented in concrete vats and aged in old French barriques. The white varietal is fermented in stainless steel tanks and aged in new barrels.

Add a Delectable Clos Saint Jean Wine to Your Collection

The range of Clos Saint Jean labels offers an unparalleled drinking experience along with sizable investment returns. 

If you wish to begin investing in fine wines, check out the Vinovest website to discover how to easily buy, store, and sell authentic fine wines from around the world.