Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
A more perfumed, floral wine compared to the Izeras release, the 2019 Saint Joseph Les Rivoires offers a rocking nose of red and blue fruits, spice, wildflowers, and orange blossom. This medium-bodied, exotic, elegant Saint Joseph has loads of character and should drink nicely right out of the gate.
Barrel Sample: 91-93 -
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
From a single parcel in Chavanay, the 2019 Saint Joseph Les Rivoires accents blueberry and boysenberry fruit with hints of dark chocolate and coffee. It's medium to full-bodied and richly textured, balanced by vibrant acidity and a long, crisp finish. It should drink well for at least a decade.
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James Suckling
Aromas of dark cherries, blueberries, dried leaves, cocoa powder and black pepper. Medium body with creamy tannins. Round with a juicy core of fruit at the center and velvety texture. Ample with a flavorful 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.