Winemaker Notes
From a 1.5 hectare vineyard in the heart of the Saint-Joseph’s finest terroir, above Mauves and Tournon. This incredibly steep plot faces southwest and is composed of pure granite with the bedrock very close to surface.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Crushed stone notes accent cassis fruit in the 2017 Saint Joseph Domaine de la Croix des Vignes. It's full-bodied but not quite as rich as the 2018. Focused, reserved and fine, it's an elegant rendering of Saint Joseph, not a big powerhouse.
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Vinous
Dark violet. Vibrant cherry, blackcurrant and wisteria aromas show fine delineation and pick up a smoky mineral nuance with air. Juicy and tightly focused, showing very good depth to its black/blue fruit and violet pastille flavors, which become more lively on the back half. Displays solid finishing cut, an echo of sweet dark berries and fine-grained tannins that add gentle grip. (made from fruit grown in Tournon and Mauves) Drinking Window: 2023 - 2031.
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Jeb Dunnuck
A classic Saint Joseph, the 2017 Saint Joseph La Croix Des Vignes has rocking levels of minerality as well as notes of violets, black raspberries, cassis, and graphite. It’s medium to full-bodied, concentrated, and balanced, and has plenty of upside.
Rating: 91+
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.