Notes:

The 2006 Chateauneuf du Pape exhibits garrigue, pepper, incense, andmeaty black cherry notes interwoven with heady levels of glycerin,abundant sex appeal, and a full-bodied, fleshy finish. It shouldprovide superb drinking over the next 10-15 years.

What aremarkable group of wines is emerging from proprietor Vincent Maurel,who works with the genius of Southern Rhone viticulture and winemaking,Philippe Cambie. A succession of superb wines began at this estate in2003, when it finally began to live up to its superb potential (ClosSaint-Jean is one of the largest holders of top vineyards inChateauneuf du Pape, with 120 acres, including some of the finest sitesfor old vine Grenache and Mourvedre). This may well be one of the mostexciting addresses not only in France, but in the entire wine world. Asthe following notes testify, the 2006s are even more profound frombottle than they were from foudre and demi-muids. Moreover, 2007 may bethe finest vintage at Clos Saint-Jean since 2003. Readers should keepin mind that Maurel and Cambie have aged the old vine Grenache in oldfoudres and some 600-liter demi-muids, but the Syrah and Mourvedrecomponents are kept in small barrels. In short, these wines are not tobe missed! To reiterate, as mind-blowing as the 2007s are, I believethat along with Clos des Papes and a handful of other domaines, ClosSt.-Jeans 2006s are the wines of the vintage. RP Issue 179

LA Times Wine of the Week, December 31, 2008
Why not ring in the new year with a bottle of full-blooded Chateauneuf-du-Pape from one of the appellation's top-tier estates?That would be the 2006 Clos Saint Jean "Vieilles Vignes," which has everything a good Chateauneuf should have: seductive notes of licorice, dark plums and spices; soft, ripe tannins; and a finespun elegance. Full of character, the deep ruby 2006 is made up of 75% old-vine Grenache and 15% Syrah, with the balance made up of Mourvdre, Cinsault and a few other grapes in minuscule quantities. That's oenologist Philippe Cambie working his magic with grapes from some of Chateauneuf's finest vineyards.