Winemaker Notes
“Terres d’Encre” is a wine worthy of its name, literally translated as ‘Earth of Ink’ it is produced from vines planted on rich, dark granite terraces in the parish of Chavanay. Dark red in color and with a bouquet and flavor of dark berry fruits. The mature, 30 year old Syrah vines give the wine the fruitiness, spicy structure and body of the grand wines of their estate.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
A pure and unadorned style, with a silky thread of cherry and damson plum fruit, carried by sanguine and savory notes. Light-bodied but nicely persistent on the finish, showing beguiling perfume. Drink now through 2028.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Also all destemmed and brought up all in used barrels, the 2017 Saint Joseph Terres D'Encre is pure Saint Joseph with its more masculine, mineral-driven style. Blackberries, violets, and ground pepper, as well as plenty of minerality all, emerge from the glass, and it's beautifully elegant, balanced, and seamless on the palate. It's another beautiful wine from Christine that can be enjoyed young yet will keep for 10-12 years if you're so inclined.
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.