Chateau St. Jean
Cinq Cépages Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon
Sonoma County, California, USA
Fruits are falling off and becoming desiccated. Mission fig, black cherry and balsamic notes framed with lots of cedar and vanillin’s. Alcohol is a bit high and slightly out of balance. Enjoyable but time to drink!
Fruits are falling off and becoming desiccated. Mission fig, black cherry and balsamic notes framed with lots of cedar and vanillin’s. Alcohol is a bit high and slightly out of balance. Enjoyable but time to drink!
Jul 18th, 2022
Wine Spectator Wine of the Year from my memory so I bought a case....last bottle and frankly it’s darn good! Good focus even with 5 grapes and nice Bordeaux nose...only know upon sipping from higher alcohol and intense fruit/acid without the clumsiness. I’ll give WS some credit here as 96 sleeper wine of the year!
Wine Spectator Wine of the Year from my memory so I bought a case....last bottle and frankly it’s darn good! Good focus even with 5 grapes and nice Bordeaux nose...only know upon sipping from higher alcohol and intense fruit/acid without the clumsiness. I’ll give WS some credit here as 96 sleeper wine of the year!
Sep 15th, 2020
Delicious, been waiting awhile for this guy.
Delicious, been waiting awhile for this guy.
Oct 28th, 2019
Something to bridge the gap between Lynch Bages and Krug Rosé time. Nose of ripe, mashed; black plum, blackberries, dark cherries, plum, boysenberries, blueberries, crushed dry rocks, dry brown top soil, bramble/dry stems, vanilla, light cinnamon & clove, lavender & violets. The body is full, round, lush & elegant. Tannins well round and 65-70% resolved. Fruits of; mashed; black plum, blackberries, dark cherries, plum, boysenberries, blueberries & notes of strawberries. Crushed dry rocks, used leather. dry brown top soil, bramble/dry stems, vanilla, cinnamon & more pronounced clove & nutmeg than on the nose, medium spice, slightly herbaceous, lavender & violets. Wishing the Chateau a quick heal to their fire damage in 2018. This was a great recent find on the secondary market at $35. More like stealing. Happy New Year to all those braving the freezing temp in “Times Square.”
Something to bridge the gap between Lynch Bages and Krug Rosé time. Nose of ripe, mashed; black plum, blackberries, dark cherries, plum, boysenberries, blueberries, crushed dry rocks, dry brown top soil, bramble/dry stems, vanilla, light cinnamon & clove, lavender & violets. The body is full, round, lush & elegant. Tannins well round and 65-70% resolved. Fruits of; mashed; black plum, blackberries, dark cherries, plum, boysenberries, blueberries & notes of strawberries. Crushed dry rocks, used leather. dry brown top soil, bramble/dry stems, vanilla, cinnamon & more pronounced clove & nutmeg than on the nose, medium spice, slightly herbaceous, lavender & violets. Wishing the Chateau a quick heal to their fire damage in 2018. This was a great recent find on the secondary market at $35. More like stealing. Happy New Year to all those braving the freezing temp in “Times Square.”
Jan 1st, 2018Drinking nicely from 375ml. Ripe; blackberries, dark cherries, plum, blueberries, soft spice, soft leather, dry top soil, fresh dark florals, round acidity and a nice round elegant finish. Photos of their Estate, barrel making, tasting room and Estate vines. Hope they recover quickly from the fire damage they experienced this fall.
Drinking nicely from 375ml. Ripe; blackberries, dark cherries, plum, blueberries, soft spice, soft leather, dry top soil, fresh dark florals, round acidity and a nice round elegant finish. Photos of their Estate, barrel making, tasting room and Estate vines. Hope they recover quickly from the fire damage they experienced this fall.
Dec 11th, 2017One of my favorite things to do when I go into K&L is to look through their library wines. From time to time, I look down and smile when I see 10-15 year old Cing Cepages. Especially, at the price they are re-sold. One the best values in Sonoma/Napa Cabernet. This 05 followed the 05 Alban Reva and it was drinking perfectly. Soft, luxurious and elegant in the mouth. Beautifully ripe; black plum, blackberries, plum, dark cherries & black raspberries. Well balanced fruit and earth, nice baking spices, excellent florals, round acidity and well polished finish. For those of you drinking your new big red wines too young, this is they way to go. Buy library wines like these to keep you from opening your very high priced red wines long before they're ready to drink. Good library wines will drink much better and cost you so much less than your new big red wine releases. For example, I find these older Cing Cepages for around $35. The lowest price for their 2013 vintage on Wine Searcher is $59. For less $$$, you're drinking beautifully elegant and READY wine. For every new producers new release you buy, buy some nice library wines. You'll reap the benefits of patience down the road. Photos of; Chateau St. Jean, their vineyard grapes and Winemakers Margo & Don Van Staaveren and the Chateau St. Jean barrel/tasting room.
One of my favorite things to do when I go into K&L is to look through their library wines. From time to time, I look down and smile when I see 10-15 year old Cing Cepages. Especially, at the price they are re-sold. One the best values in Sonoma/Napa Cabernet. This 05 followed the 05 Alban Reva and it was drinking perfectly. Soft, luxurious and elegant in the mouth. Beautifully ripe; black plum, blackberries, plum, dark cherries & black raspberries. Well balanced fruit and earth, nice baking spices, excellent florals, round acidity and well polished finish. For those of you drinking your new big red wines too young, this is they way to go. Buy library wines like these to keep you from opening your very high priced red wines long before they're ready to drink. Good library wines will drink much better and cost you so much less than your new big red wine releases. For example, I find these older Cing Cepages for around $35. The lowest price for their 2013 vintage on Wine Searcher is $59. For less $$$, you're drinking beautifully elegant and READY wine. For every new producers new release you buy, buy some nice library wines. You'll reap the benefits of patience down the road. Photos of; Chateau St. Jean, their vineyard grapes and Winemakers Margo & Don Van Staaveren and the Chateau St. Jean barrel/tasting room.
Oct 1st, 2017
Château ST. Jean Cinq Cepages. 77% Cab . Just short of 50% new oak.
Cherry, blackberry jam, dark chocolate, simple polished finish. Pop & pour. Drink
Château ST. Jean Cinq Cepages. 77% Cab . Just short of 50% new oak.
Cherry, blackberry jam, dark chocolate, simple polished finish. Pop & pour. Drink
Incredibly fresh and youthful. Slight greenness.
Incredibly fresh and youthful. Slight greenness.
2 people found it helpfulJan 3rd, 2016
Still young and vibrant, though starting to lose some primary characteristics with mocha, cedar and bell pepper peeking through
Still young and vibrant, though starting to lose some primary characteristics with mocha, cedar and bell pepper peeking through
2 people found it helpfulJul 2nd, 2015