Clos St. Antonin Cotes du Rhone 2018
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James
Suckling -
Jeb
Dunnuck
Product Details
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Winemaker Notes
The Côtes-du-Rhône from Clos Saint Antonin comes from the younger vines on the property – between 30-50 years old! This cuvée is always dominated by Grenache (~80%) with Syrah and Mourvèdre making up the remainder of the blend. Originally this cuvée was aged in concrete and foudre but starting in 2018 Isabelle has decided that to achieve as naked an expression of Grenache as possible it is fermented and aged without SO2 it in neutral 600L French oak demi-muids.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
A new cuvée without sulfites added and 100% grenache. The nose has a very attractive, fresh red-plum and berry feel with red licorice, too. The palate has a silky, supple and soft feel and a very rich and plush core. Fleshy and easy.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Moving to the 2018s, the 2018 Côtes du Rhône is another perfumed, elegant, beautifully complex Côtes du Rhône offering a cool-climate-like style in its more raspberry and strawberry fruits as well as white pepper and Provençal garrigue aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied, seamless, and beautifully balanced, this is a terrific Côtes du Rhône to enjoy over the coming 3-5 years.
Other Vintages
2022-
James
Suckling
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James
Suckling
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Robert
Parker -
James
Suckling
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Jeb
Dunnuck -
Robert
Parker -
James
Suckling
Clos Saint Antonin is a 15 hectare estate located outside the town of Jonquières within the Côtes-du-Rhône Village of Plan de Dieu. A short drive away from Courthézon where Domaine de la Janasse is situated, Clos Saint Antonin was purchased by the Sabon family in 2014. Small, compact and contiguous estates rarely come on the market in the Rhône, let along ones planted on the classic red clays, galets and sand typical of Plan de Dieu. While it is quite common to see the famed estates of Châteauneuf-du-Pape looking over the Rhône river towards Lirac to expand their holdings, more and more are looking north to Plan de Dieu since this terroir is quite similar to what they find in their backyard. While the whole family is involved with its farming and winemaking, Isabelle Sabon is heading up this new project – one supplemented by some of her family’s vineyards in Le Crau for the Clos Saint Antonin Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
With bold fruit flavors and accents of sweet spice, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre form the base of the classic Rhône Red Blend, while Carignan, Cinsault and Counoise often come in to play. Though they originated from France’s southern Rhône Valley, with some creative interpretation, Rhône blends have also become popular in other countries. Somm Secret—Putting their own local spin on the Rhône Red Blend, those from Priorat often include Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. In California, it is not uncommon to see Petite Sirah make an appearance.
Typically thought of as a baby Chateâuneuf-du-Pape, the term Côtes du Rhône actually doesn’t merely apply to the flatter outskirts of the major southern Rhône appellations, it also includes the fringes of well-respected northern Rhône appellations. White wines can be produced under the appellation name, but very little is actually made.
The region offers some of the best values in France and even some first-rate and age-worthy reds. Red wine varieties include most of the Chateâuneuf-du-Pape varieties like Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, Cinsault, and Counoise, as well as Carignan. White grapes grown include Grenache blanc, Roussanne and Viognier, among others.