14% abv, Travaillan, imported by MISA, Dallas, TX. Cork closure: diam composite. Biodynamic calendar: leaf day.

Plan de Dieu is one of the more well-known and admired villages of the substantial Côte de Rhone-Villages appellation. Although there are 95 villages incorporated into this appellation, there are just 20 (at last count) that can append their name to the AOC. Plan de Dieu is located on the left bank of the Rhône River near the town of Orange surrounded by the company of prestigious Rhône cru Châteauneuf-du-Pape and has a similar terroir of large pudding stones. It makes an excellent case for promotion to Cru in the near future.

Saint Jean is part of the Gabrielle Meffre group and is a small property focusing on the wines of the Southern Rhône Valley. Here is the cuvée is a traditional bend of 75% Grenache, 20% Syrah (old vines 50+ years of age), and 5% Mourvèdre grown on galet stone covered clay-limestone soils at Travaillan, Plan de Dieu. The bunches are destemmed, spend 2-3 weeks during vinification, are pumped over, and aged in steel & concrete vat for 18 months before being bottled unfined and filtered.

Tasting note: Medium garnet, with a clean nose of medium intensity with aromas of dates, liquirish, fig, black cherry, rosemary and marjoram. On the palate, this wine is dry with medium acidity, medium+ tannins, medium+ alcohol, medium+ body, medium flavor intensity and a long finish with flavors of stewed plum, baked cherry, mulberry, crème de Mure, amaretto, Turkish fig, thyme, tar and cinnamon sticks, caramel, tarragon and mild tobacco. This was quite complex on the palate and opened up over the course of an hour to reveal more and more layers of secondary and tertiary flavors for a very enjoyable experience, although the balance was lopsided. Drink now, this wine is very good: 9.0/10.