Clos Saint Jean

Clos Saint Jean can easily be counted as one of the top houses in the appellation. It is a company with an enormous history of international top scores. Clos Saint Jean makes Châteauneuf-du-Pape as Châteauneuf-du-Pape is meant to be. In addition, the winery also makes a Vin de Pays de Vaucluse that is among the best in the region.

The Clos Saint Jean brand has been around since 1910 and has always stood for traditionally made, tough, red wines in what would later be called the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation. In 2001, the two brothers Pascal and Vincent Maurel took the decision to change course and deviate from the way their father, Guy Maurel, who died prematurely in 2002. Guy Maurel was a traditional winemaker, who preferred to spend his time in the vineyard. Many of his colleagues praise his vineyards as "the most beautiful in Châteauneuf". There had to be more to it, the brothers thought. They hired the help of winemaker Philippe Cambie for the 2002 harvest. Unfortunately, that harvest was one that does not happen very often in Châteauneuf: a very bad one. The brothers decide not to bottle anything under their own name and sell their entire harvest in bulk.

In 2003 they try again and this time it goes well: they make what are perhaps the best wines of the vintage. Robert Parker wrote about the wines of Clos Saint Jean: "Châteauneuf-du-Pape or even red wine in general simply can't be any better than this".

Today, Pascal and Vincent Maurel are in charge of the domain. The vineyard area is a total of 43 hectares, a large part of which is also old vines.