2012 Clos Saint Jean Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Combe des Fous

Community Tasting Notes (27) Avg Score: 93.5 points

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  1/19/2024 - Shay.Aldriedge Likes this wine: 93 Points

  One of my favorite CdP producers. I opened this alongside a buddy’s 2009 CSJ Deus Ex Machina and it was really intriguing to see the differences.
  
  60 Grenache/20 Syrah/remainder a blend.
  
  Quick bottle decant before diving in. While ready to go, an hour full-decant would probably be a good call at this stage, but not required. Where the Ex Machina was more high toned and layered (thanks to the blend), this was more up-front and plush. Violets and spiced berry compote aromatically. Dark berry fruit, sweet pipe tobacco and fig dominate the palate. Extremely concentrated (not extracted), with a savory graphite profile at the finish. Would have sworn Mourvèdre was heavy in this. Delicious. 93+

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  12/31/2023 - rossi.wine wrote:

  Expressive and layered on the nose - lots of dark fruit, spices, smoke, licorice. On the palate very concentrated and ripe. Well integrated acidity, unobtrusive tannins. Very long with noticeable alcohol towards the finish. Drink or keep. 92-94

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  11/2/2023 - ERU wrote: 94 Points

  Glass at one hour decant: Marvelous. Pepper, licorice, cherry with warm spices. Remarkably light on its feet. Glass at 4.5 hour decant: liked it better earlier! Still great. All the previous with fruit less prevalent and the pepper turning toward the white pepper realm and some smoked bacon. This is in a good spot. Will probably plan on my next bottle sometime in 2024 and will consume more quickly.

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  2/8/2023 - beatles wrote: 93 Points

  Still plenty of stuffing here with a sweet core of kirsch. Relaxing just a little bit, approachable like the vintage, getting a more local feel with a sound spicyness, not as busy, as these can be.
  #pensiondanmark

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  1/4/2023 - Eric wrote: 93 Points

  Fantastic showing. Deep, spicy intense, chambord, licorice, garrigue, black pepper. Pure and driven, this has barely aged after a decade, but the fruit is stepped back just a little with a silky profile. Really lovely, prime drinking right now, still young but really showing vigor and energy.

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