Winemaker Notes
E. Guigal Saint-Joseph showcases the family’s deep connection to the region, having acquired exceptional vineyard sites in 1999. Just 45 minutes north of Saint-Joseph, the Guigals quickly became passionate advocates for the incredible depth and complexity that wines from these great sites can offer. While they share some of the black fruit and spice character of neighboring Hermitage, Saint-Joseph wines tend to be more composed and approachable in their youth, offering finesse and elegance over sheer power. This is a standout example of this historic appellation.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
All Syrah from a single lieu-dit and brought up in 50% new French oak, the 2023 Saint Joseph Lieu-Dit Saint Joseph is brilliant, showing exceptional purity in its cassis, graphite, pepper, and violet aromas and flavors. Medium to full-bodied, seamless, and impeccably balanced, it has integrated oak, fine tannins, and a finish that won't quit.
Barrel Sample: 95-97 -
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Surprisingly, the 2023 Saint-Joseph Lieu-Dit Saint-Joseph is more open and expressive than the regular Saint-Joseph, revealing aromas of cassis, blueberry and attractive spicy nuances. Medium- to full-bodied, juicy and round, it displays an elegant, fleshy profile framed by finely integrated tannins. Dense yet well-balanced, it concludes with a long finish marked by lingering notes of cassis and blueberry. It's a superb wine that should age gracefully over the next decade and beyond.
Range: 92-94 -
Vinous
Fleshy scents, pencil shavings and smoky tones introduce the 2023 Saint-Joseph Lieu-dit Saint-Joseph, a medium-bodied, distinctively savoury red Saint-Joseph, letting the palate settle with fresh bite and persistence on the smooth finish.
The Guigal domain was founded in 1946 by Etienne Guigal in the ancient village of Ampuis, home of the wines of the Côte-Rôtie. In these vineyards that are over 2400 years old, you can still see the small terraced walls characteristic of the Roman period. Etienne Guigal arrived in this region in 1923 at the age of 14. He made wine for over 67 vintages and, at the beginning of his career, participated in the development of the Vidal-Fleury establishment.
Despite his young age, Marcel Guigal took over from his father in 1961 when the latter was victim to a brutal illness rendering him blind. Marcel's hard work and perseverance enabled the Guigals to buy out Vidal-Fleury in 1984, although the establishment retains its own identity and commercial autonomy. In 2000, the Guigals purchased the Jean-Louis Grippat estate in Saint-Joseph and Hermitage, as well as the Domaine de Vallouit in Côte-Rôtie, Hermitage, Saint-Joseph and Crozes-Hermitage.
In the cellars of the Guigal estate in Ampuis, the northern appellations of the Rhône Valley are produced and aged. These are the appellations of Côte-Rôtie, Condrieu, Hermitage, Saint-Joseph and Crozes-Hermitage. The great appellations of the Southern Rhône, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas, Tavel and Côtes-du-Rhône, are also aged in the Ampuis cellars.
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.