Clos Saint Antonin Cotes du Rhone Villages Plan de Dieu 2020

Made by the Sabon family of Châteauneuf du Pape’s revered Domaine de la Janasse, Clos Saint Antonin is a new project from their estate to the north, across the river from Gigondas. From old vines in the village of Plan de Dieu, this wine drinks like Châteauneuf’s richer cousin. At NEARLY 60% OFF, this is a new find that every CdP lover needs to try!

Seriously, $18.95 for a “Baby Châteauneuf” that Jeb Dunnuck says “will give many a Châteauneuf du Pape a run for its money”... are we for real?!?! You bet. This is a classic southern Rhone blend – roughly 50% grenache, 30% mourvedre, and 20% syrah from 50+-year-old vines in iron-rich clay soils littered with the region's famous “rolled pebble” stones. The varieties are harvested and fermented separately, with the grenache aged in large oak foudres while the syrah and mourvedre spend their time in neutral barriques.

The style of this wine is unapologetically hedonistic, with rich, dark, and ripe fruit notes of blackberries, black plums, and mulberries. The fruits are punctuated with ample spice notes of garrigue, black pepper, and clove – uplifted by a mineral edge and delicately floral tones. This has the structure and weight to survive another 5-7 years beautifully, but for pure, unbridled pleasure…it’s drinking quite well in the here and now! Delightfully complex and richly pleasing wine, even at the full retail of $45…but at 58% OFF, this is a tremendous wine to have in quantity. While it lasts!