Winemaker Notes
Aromas and flavors of blackberries and wild strawberries are accented by notes of peppercorns, tobacco, peonies, and violets.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
A robust, well-built and focused red with aromas of dark cherries, sweet berries, wild herbs and baking spices on the nose. It’s medium-bodied with fine, firm tannins. Well driven with a textured mid-palate and a long, lively finish.
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Wine Spectator
A dark, ripe, weighty version, with black cherry, licorice and grilled sage notes framed by finely sculpted tannins that hold a muscular grip. Graphite shavings line the palate, adding power and seriousness. Toasted sandalwood and smoke mark the long, solid finish. Still quite tight, this will benefit from a bit of cellaring. Best from 2026 through 2034.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Blackberries, pepper, violets, and ground herbs define the bouquet of the 2022 Saint Joseph, and it's medium to full-bodied, concentrated, and powerful on the palate. Coming from the northern sector of Saint Joseph, it shows beautiful freshness and minerality, with building tannins and outstanding length.
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Vinous
Dried herbs, black cherry, red plum, graphite and leafy characteristics present the 2022 Saint-Joseph. Elegant and savory, the 2022 touches the medium-bodied palate with elevated flavor concentration and winds down with persistence on the refined finish.
Marked by an unmistakable deep purple hue and savory aromatics, Syrah makes an intense, powerful and often age-worthy red. Native to the Northern Rhône, Syrah achieves its maximum potential in the steep village of Hermitage and plays an important component in the Red Rhône Blends of the south, adding color and structure to Grenache and Mourvèdre. Syrah is the most widely planted grape of Australia and is important in California and Washington. Sommelier Secret—Such a synergy these three create together, the Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre trio often takes on the shorthand term, “GSM.”
Spanning the longest stretch of river in the northern Rhône—from Condrieu in the north, to Cornas in the south—the heart of St.-Joseph lies directly across the Rhône River from Hermitage. While its soils are basically the same as Hermitage: granite, supplemented by sand and gravel, its east facing slope receives less sunlight than Hermitage, which causes less overall berry ripening on its Syrah vines. However, some of the best of them can rival any fine expression of Hermitage, Cote-Rotie or Cornas with concentrated black fruits, dark spices, crushed rock and violets. A general advantage of the region is that its Syrahs typically don’t need as much time in the bottle compared to a Cote-Rotie or Hermitage and are much easier on the bank account!
A textbook St.-Joseph red is firm with a core of minerality that is enhanced by savory and peppery qualities. Aromas and flavors of smoke, olives, herbs, and violets are common; its wines are dense in red and black fruit.
St.-Joseph is also a source of fine northern Rhône white wine. Viognier, Marsanne and Roussanne grow well here and can be blended or made into single varietal wines. St.-Joseph whites are full and silky with citrus, pear and pineapple flavors and a rich bouquet reminiscent of honeysuckle, toasted nuts, spice and caramel.