Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
Also deeply colored, the 2018 Saint Joseph Le Passage offers a pure, rounded, sexy style that still has plenty of depth and density. Pure dark fruits, ground pepper, and violets notes all give way to a medium to full-bodied, polished wine that my money is on being outstanding.
Barrel Sample: 91-93 -
James Suckling
A rich and deeply ripe expression with a wealth of very juicy pears and peaches and a smooth delivery of ripe, spiced-pear flesh on the palate. This has attractive weight and depth. Drink or hold.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Sourced largely from Malleval, Ogier's 2018 Saint Joseph le Passage features classic Syrah elements of asphalt, black olive, black pepper and blackberries. Medium to full-bodied, it boasts silky tannins but also a certain amount of muscle and intensity under that soft exterior. At 30% new oak (the highest proportion of new oak in any red wine in the cellar this year), the oak isn't obtrusive at all, blending seamlessly into the fruit.
Barrel Sample: 90-92
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.