La Combe des Fous Clos Saint Jean 2015 Magnum

Le Domaine

Clos Saint Jean — A Modern Classic of Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Founded in 1900 and acquired by the Maurel family in 2002, Clos Saint Jean has rapidly ascended to the pinnacle of Châteauneuf-du-Pape producers. Under the stewardship of Pascal and Vincent Maurel, this 42-hectare estate has become renowned for crafting powerful, terroir-expressive wines that rival the appellation’s most historic names. Their philosophy centers on meticulous vineyard management, low yields, and minimal intervention in the cellar to allow the exceptional terroir to speak clearly.

La Combe des Fous represents the estate’s most ambitious expression — a micro-cuvée produced only in exceptional vintages from their oldest vines. The wine has garnered international acclaim from critics including Robert Parker and Jeb Dunnuck, consistently earning scores in the upper 90s. This offering of the 2015 vintage in magnum format represents an exceptional opportunity for collectors seeking wines with extended aging potential.

Ce lot

Disponible en Magnum (1.5L) - idéal pour les collectionneurs et pour une conservation à long terme.

Terroir et raisins

Ancient Vines on Châteauneuf’s Legendary Galets

La Combe des Fous originates from a single parcel of exceptionally old Grenache vines planted on the plateau of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, where the iconic galets roulés (large rounded stones) cover red clay and limestone subsoils. These heat-retaining stones absorb solar energy during the day and release it at night, ensuring optimal ripeness while the Mistral wind moderates temperatures and prevents disease. The vines, some exceeding 100 years in age, naturally yield tiny quantities of intensely concentrated fruit that forms the backbone of this remarkable wine.

Vinification et vieillissement

Uncompromising Traditional Methods

The grapes for La Combe des Fous are hand-harvested at optimal phenolic ripeness and rigorously sorted before undergoing fermentation in temperature-controlled cement tanks. The winemaking approach is deliberately traditional, with extended maceration to extract the full complexity of tannins, color, and aromatics from these centenarian vines. Following fermentation, the wine is transferred to a combination of new and used French oak barrels where it undergoes malolactic conversion and élevage for approximately 18 months.

The wine is bottled unfined and unfiltered to preserve its full textural richness and aromatic integrity, resulting in a wine of profound concentration and aging potential that will evolve magnificently for decades.

Caractère vintage

2015 — A Benchmark Year in the Southern Rhône

The 2015 vintage is widely regarded as one of the finest in recent Châteauneuf-du-Pape history, combining the power and ripeness of a warm year with remarkable freshness and structural precision. A hot, dry summer with occasional cooling influences from the Mistral allowed the old vines to achieve perfect physiological maturity without losing acidity or aromatic definition. The result is wines of extraordinary concentration, depth, and balance — deeply colored, richly textured, yet possessing the tension and complexity that define truly great Châteauneuf.

For top estates like Clos Saint Jean working with ancient vines, 2015 produced wines of monumental structure with the breeding and elegance to age gracefully for 30 years or more. Critics have unanimously celebrated the vintage as among the greatest of the 21st century in this storied appellation.

Notes de dégustation

Profound Concentration Meets Elegant Complexity

La Combe des Fous 2015 presents an inky, nearly opaque purple-black robe in the glass. The nose is extraordinarily expressive, revealing layer upon layer of crushed blackberries, kirsch, garrigue herbs, smoked meat, black olive tapenade, and exotic spices including star anise and black pepper. On the palate, the wine displays monumental concentration and power, yet remains remarkably poised — full-bodied and richly textured with velvety tannins that coat the mouth, balanced by vibrant acidity that lifts the profound dark fruit core. The finish extends seemingly endlessly, echoing notes of licorice, graphite, lavender, and roasted game. This is Châteauneuf-du-Pape of astonishing depth and complexity, a wine that demands contemplation and rewards patience.

Service et jumelage

A Wine for Grand Occasions

This monumental Châteauneuf demands equally impressive culinary partners. Consider pairing with herb-crusted rack of lamb, wild boar daube with Provençal herbs, aged Comté or mature Époisses, or a richly marbled côte de bœuf grilled over vine cuttings. The wine’s complex spice profile and garrigue character make it an exceptional match for game birds prepared with juniper and thyme, or Moroccan-spiced lamb tagine. The magnum format is ideal for sharing among 8–10 guests at a celebratory dinner, and will continue to evolve magnificently in the cellar for at least two more decades.

🚚 Suisse - UE - USA - Monde entier

Voir tous les tarifs & dans le monde entier →

Explorer et apprendre

Grands vins - En savoir plus

• Parcourez notre collection complète de vins
  Bordeaux, Bourgogne, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Alsace
• Visitez le Wines & Spirits Journal
  Rapports sur les millésimes et profils des producteurs