Winemaker Notes
The wine has a fragrant nose with aromas of white flowers, fresh citrus fruits and hints of honey. It has a well balanced and racy palate. The mid-palate is round and velvety and the finish expresses the minerality of the terroir.
Professional Ratings
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Vinous
The 2023 Saint-Joseph Blanc Lieu-Dit Digue is a varietal Roussanne that grows on the same name lieu-dit, a steep hillside facing south in the commune of Saint-Pierre-de-Bœuf, located in the northern part of the appellation. Deep lemon in hue, the 2023 unzips with fragrant verbena tea, linden blossom, yellow apple, cedar and wet stone notes. Closing with stamina on the sapid finish, the 2023 is a tasty Roussanne from the Northern Rhône, matching the enticing 2022 rendition.
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Decanter
Attractive, very Roussanne in style with its white pear aromas and subtle lime notes. Tobacco leaf from the oak, full on the generous palate, but feels fresh, with good acidity. Has power and salinity.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Beautiful notes of tangerine, white peach, honeysuckle, spice, and flowers all emerge from the 2023 Saint Joseph Lieu-Dit Digue Blanc. Medium to full-bodied, rich, and beautifully textured, it has integrated acidity and good freshness, with a pure, focused style that will drink nicely for 4-6 years. Drink 2025-2030.
Full-bodied and flavorful, white Rhône blends originate from France’s Rhône Valley. Today these blends are also becoming popular in other regions. Typically some combination of Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Roussanne and Viognier form the basis of a white Rhône blend with varying degrees of flexibility depending on the exact appellation. Somm Secret—In the Northern Rhône, blends of Marsanne and Roussanne are common but the south retains more variety. Marsanne, Roussanne as well as Bourboulenc, Clairette, Picpoul and Ugni Blanc are typical.
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.