Clos St. Jean Sanctus Sanctorum 2015 MG

Clos St. Jean Sanctus Sanctorum 2015 in magnum is one of the Rhône’s modern icons: a rare, single-parcel Châteauneuf-du-Pape made exclusively from old-vine Grenache. In the generous 2015 vintage, it brings together sheer power, creamy richness and striking purity of fruit in a format built for the table and the cellar. Produced only in the very best years and in tiny quantities, Sanctus Sanctorum has become a benchmark for collectors seeking the most hedonistic yet refined expression of Grenache from Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, the 2015 Sanctus Sanctorum is dense and saturated, with a deep ruby to garnet core that hints at its concentration and youth, especially in magnum. The nose is lavish and immediately seductive: waves of ripe raspberry coulis, macerated cherries and stone fruits unfold alongside layers of dried Provencal herbs, cinnamon stick, clove and allspice. Subtle notes of licorice, warm earth and garrigue add complexity with air. On the palate, this is a large-scaled, creamy and intensely fruited wine that remains surprisingly poised. The texture is velvety and mouth-filling, with generous Grenache sweetness wrapped around a core of red berries, plum and baked strawberry, all seasoned by sweet spice and a touch of dried orange peel. Despite its opulence, the wine glides gracefully, with fine tannins providing support and a finish that seems to go on and on. A faint warmth appears in the aftertaste, a reflection of both the vintage and the wine’s richness, suggesting that while it has several years of positive development ahead—especially in magnum—it is likely to show at its best on the earlier side of long-term cellaring compared to more structured vintages.

Production
Sanctus Sanctorum comes from some of Clos St. Jean’s oldest Grenache vines, planted in the famed La Crau sector of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, where vines dig deep into soils of galets roulés (large rounded stones), sand and clay, constantly swept by the mistral wind. Yields are kept very low, and the fruit is harvested by hand at optimal ripeness, with strict sorting in the vineyard and at the cellar to retain only perfect bunches. In 2015, the pure Grenache was aged in a combination of clay amphorae and new demi-muids (large oak barrels), a regime that allows ample richness and texture while preserving the clarity and intensity of the fruit, with gentle extraction rather than overt oak influence.

Food & Serving
This is a wine made for richly flavored, slow-cooked dishes and noble cuts of meat: think roast lamb with herbs, duck breast with cherries, venison or wild boar stews, truffle-infused dishes, and aged hard cheeses. It also works beautifully with Mediterranean-inspired cuisine—roasted vegetables, olive tapenade, and dishes with sweet spice accents. Serve at 16–18°C (60–64°F); in magnum, the wine will benefit from a good 1–2 hours in a decanter to fully unfurl its aromatic complexity and to allow the slight warmth on the finish to better integrate.

Producer
Clos St. Jean is a historic estate in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, founded in the early 20th century and long known locally for its old-vine Grenache holdings in top sites such as La Crau. Under the stewardship of the Maurel family and with modern-era guidance from top consultants, Clos St. Jean has risen to the very summit of the appellation, regularly receiving critical acclaim and multiple perfect or near-perfect scores for its top cuvées. Sanctus Sanctorum sits at the pinnacle of the range, produced only in exceptional vintages from a tiny parcel of venerable Grenache vines, and has helped cement Clos St. Jean’s reputation as one of the Rhône Valley’s reference producers for richly textured yet finely crafted Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

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