External search
Google (images)
Wine Advocate
Wine Spectator
Burghound
Wine-Searcher
Vintages
2021
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
Show more
From this producer
Show all wines
All tasting notes
|
| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Drinking window: Drink between 2018 and 2027 (based on 21 user opinions) |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 91.5 pts. and median of 91 pts. in 10 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by MLipton on 6/16/2023: I thought that my supply was gone… but I was mistaken. Again, opened with venison tenderloin and it once again shone: thick yet balanced, savory with lots of black olive and earth, yet underlying it all is an abundance of dark berryish fruit and plenty of acidic structure. Tannins are fine grained at this point and it’s terrific with food. For those who love the tertiary characteristics of Syrah, it’s got another five years of life ahead; if instead you value fruit and freshness, drink up soon. (172 views) | | | Tasted by MLipton on 7/2/2022: Opened tonight with venison chops. It’s in a very nice place right now, with smooth tannins and still lots of dark berry fruit. Everything is well-integrated, so I expect another 5-10 years of life ahead for it. It’s so delicious now, though, that I doubt I’ll wait that long before opening my other bottle. (266 views) | | | Tasted by Aravind Asok on 1/31/2022: Popped yesterday. On the counter unrefrigerated overnight. This is stunning today. See previous note for details, but I guess I couldn't wait 5 years, haha. (425 views) | | | Tasted by Aravind Asok on 1/13/2021: Not so much evolution from the last btl. Need to be patient with the last btl. After 1 hr open, slow-ox, and vigorous swirling, a lovely nose slowly emerges: sweet, dark, dark, blackberry, soft charcoal and olive notes, and pure granitic minerality. On the palate: granite, fantastic acidity, sweet blackberry, grapefruit pith, perhaps a touch thinner than I would like, especially given the density the nose suggests, the finish is soft black pepper, mixed with chalky tannin. Still very much in the unfurling stage...maybe try to wait 5 more years for the next btl? (527 views) | | | Tasted by Aravind Asok on 10/13/2019: A little under 4 yrs since my last btl. Decanted, notes from 45 min open (and lots of vigorous swirling). This wine is still slightly unyielding, but the nose is wonderful: sweet dark blackberry, very meaty, a touch of tarriness, and game. On the palate: good density, loads of sweet blackberry, fantastic acidity, thins out a bit toward the end, and leans more high-toned, but some rustic tannin rounds this out nicely. Lovely. (673 views) | | | Tasted by geeky? not sure on 3/9/2016: Much more open for business than I expected. Very St. Jo / Northern Rhone: meat, flowers, salinity/brine. Not too heavy, but good fruit. Very nice. I didn't find the tannins overbearing. Good. (1709 views) | | | Tasted by salil on 1/26/2016 & rated 91 points: Another fantastic bottle. Smoky, floral, herbal, briny; remarkably complex and savoury for such a young wine. Lots of tannin here, but wonderful with dinner. Thanks, Z. (1877 views) | | | Tasted by Aravind Asok on 12/11/2015: Opened this yesterday, and even after a fairly long decant it was incredibly unyielding. Poured back into the bottle and left it open on the countertop overnight, and it has transformed. If this bottle is any indication, I would go so far as to say don't drink this on day 1. Just open it up and leave it out.
I won't bother mentioning Day 1. On Day 2, this drinks nothing like any St. Joseph I've ever had. If anything, it reminds me of old vine Cornas. On the nose, intense notes of menthol and herbs, followed by gamey meat and flowers. On the palate, full bodied, showing loads of tension and dense tannic structure. Great texture and a long finish. This seems built not to be touched for 5+ years. Spectacular showing. (1216 views) | | | Tasted by salil on 11/22/2015 & rated 92 points: Really impressive. Apparently this had been open for a full day, but it still feels incredibly youthful and primary, not to mention packed with a fair bit of tannin. But the aromatics are so compelling - smoke, lavender, black olives, and faintly meaty/leathery notes lead into a palate that feels remarkably fresh and light on its feet with powerful acidity beneath the fruit. This is all about intensity and power conveyed with barely any sense of weight, and it's a really compelling wine. (1753 views) | | | Tasted by Chomsky on 11/21/2015: Well gee, this is nothing like the 2012. That wine was light and graceful, open-knit and pleasing, but not apparently structured for the long haul. This is chockablock dense Syrah, scorched meat, floral notes, the whole kit. This needs some time to unwind but the material is promising. (1298 views) |
| Syrah Varietal article (Wikipedia) | (Wines Northwest)
Note that some producers in the Northern Rhone distinguish between simply Syrah and "Serine", the latter described as ‘an ancient clone of Syrah, the berries of which are more oval-shaped and less deeply pigmented than Syrah’ by producer Tardieu-Laurent. Vieilles Vignes Old Vine/Vieilles Vignes (Wikipedia)France Vins de France (Office National Interprofessionnel des Vins ) | Pages Vins, Directory of French Winegrowers | French Wine (Wikipedia)
Wine Scholar Guild vintage ratings
2018 vintage: "marked by a wet spring, a superb summer and a good harvest"
2019 vintage reports
2021: "From a general standpoint, whether for white, rosé or red wines, 2021 is a year marked by quality in the Rhône Valley Vineyards. Structured, elegant, fresh and fruity will be the main keywords for this new vintage."
2022 harvest: idealwine.info | wine-searcher.comRhône Guide to the wines, wineries and appellations in the Rhone Valley The Rhône Valley/Le Vins de la Vallée du Rhône (Comité Interprofession des vins AOC Côtes et vallée du Rhône)
### Wine Scholar Guild's Rhône valley vintage charts & ratings ###Northern Rhône Guide to the wines and appellations of the Northern Rhone Valley -
The Rhône Valley/Le Vins de la Vallée du Rhône (Comité Interprofession des vins AOC Côtes et vallée du Rhône)
Regional History:
Phocaean Greeks established viticulture in the Rhone as far back as 600 BC, but until the 14th century the wines were not seen outside the region. The establishment of the Avignonese Papacy (1305-1377) brought fame to the region's wine-so much so that their Burgundian neighbors to the north banned wines from the Rhone in 1446, a measure that effectively cut off trade with England and other Northern European markets for over 200 years. Stretching southward from Lyon to just south of Avignon, the Rhone produces a wide variety of wines, with the appellations north of Valence producing the least (in volume), and the towns south of Montelimar producing prodigious amounts. As in other regions, the most interesting wines come from small farms. Saint-Joseph, in the northern Rhone, extends for some distance between Condrieu in the north to Saint-Peray in the south. The reds are made from Syrah and the rare whites from Marsanne and Roussanne, and Viognier.
### 2017 vintage ###
"The first red wines already tasted in the Northern Rhône promise a beautiful vintage, with a quality close to the 2015 or even the 2009 vintage" - NEWRHÔNE MILLESIMES |
|
