In recent vintages the wines at this property, located close to VIEUX TÉLÉGRAPHE, have been transformed from somewhat rustic and old-fashioned to dense, rich complex and very well made. Some of this is certainly down to consultancy from southern Rhône and Languedoc oenologue Philippe Cambie but also a commitment to lifting quality from the family. There are 41 ha with over half planted in a mix of argilo-calcaire and galet roulés top soils. nutty, stylish Clos Saint Jean blanc comes from an equal blend of Grenache, Clairette and Roussanne and vinified in small oak, a proportion new. The reds are all dominated by Grenache. The dark, spicy regular red comes from a yield of just 25 hl/ha, the top reds even less. La Combe des Fous has a big dollop of old-vine Grenache, the Deus ex-Machina, the very oldest Grenache along with 40% of Mourvèdre adding a formidable underlying structure to the wine. All the reds will develop well for at least six or seven years, the Deux-ex-Machina potentially twice that. A further very limited release, Sanctus Sanctorum is also now made and comes from over 100 year old Grenache. The domaine also makes a further Châteauneuf-du-Pape red, Chimère, in partnership with Manfred Krankl of Sine Qua Non in California.
