Winemaker Notes
The color is a deep, dark ruby red The nose is clearly marked by delicate aromas of cassis and spices. On the palate, the "François de Tournon" cuvée shows a smooth and voluptuous texture hiding a good but fine and silky tannic structure, that gives the wine great potential for ageing.
Pair with fine meats, spicy stews, grills, game, or any kind of cheese.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Deep nose of forest berries, smoke and bitter chocolate with some laurel. A concentrated and seriously structured St.-Joseph with an excellent tannin structure and some balsamic and stony complexity in the long, plush finish. A pure syrah that was matured exclusively in Burgundian oak barrels, of which almost 30% were new. Very good aging potential. Drink from 2026.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Fermented with 20% stems, the 2022 Saint Joseph Francois De Tournon brings another level of everything. Red and black fruits, graphite, smoke, and crushed stone all define the aromatics, and this beauty is medium to full-bodied, has a layered, ripe, seamless mouthfeel, and building yet fine tannins.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Crafted from own and purchased grapes, all situated in the communes of Saint-Jean de Muzol and Vion, the 2022 Saint-Joseph Francois de Tournon is fermented with 20% whole bunches. Evoking a spicy, oaky character with aromas of dark berries, licorice and iris, it's medium to full-bodied with a dense and deep palate characterized by a moderately tannic but assertive frame that segues into a long, austere and slightly oaky finish brought by the malolactic fermentation that took place in barrels. Fully matured in barrels, 30% of which were new, this well-crafted wine shows aging potential. Allowing it to mellow for 3-4 years in the cellar is recommended.
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Wine Spectator
Stylish and polished, with dark berry and plum notes bolstered by black tea tannins and a taut line of mineral energy. Sweet cedar spice and mesquite elements reveal generous oak polish, which will integrate with time. The finish is succulent, with vibrant acidity. Offers ripe fruit, but there's still a lot of graphite minerality simmering underneath. Best from 2026 through 2032.
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.