2015 St Joseph Les Oliviers Blanc

Starting with their 2015 Saint Joseph Blanc, this classic blend of mostly Marsanne offers a ripe, unctuous style, and is one of the more concentrated, rich wines of the appellation. Buttered stone fruit, citrus blossom, honeysuckle and ample brioche aromas and flavors all emerge from this medium to full-bodied beauty, and it has terrific fat and density, yet stays light and graceful on the palate. It's going to evolve for 10-15 years or more. Unquestionably one of the leading estates in St Joseph, Pierre Gonon is run with incredible talent and passion by brothers Jean and Pierre Gonon. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to taste their 2016s, but I’ve yet to see this estate put a foot wrong.

Limpid yellow. Intensely perfumed aromas of pear nectar, melon, candied fig and chamomile take on hints of chalky minerals and orange zest with air. Smooth, concentrated and expansive in the mouth, offering mineral-tinged orchard and pit fruit flavors that show excellent depth and a refreshingly bitter touch of quinine. Finishes extremely long and seamless, displaying impressive clarity and building spiciness. I wouldn't hesitate to put this wine up against a number of big-name white Hermitages.

This has a very ripe and rich flamboyant nose with a lot of fresh apples, melon, poached peaches and sweet flowers. There\'s a chalky edge below, too. Good phenolics, low acid, nice balance and yet plenty of depth and richness, which all culminates in a glazed finish. Drink now through to 2020. Selection massale from 20-60-year-old vines of an average of 38 years of age. South-facing lieu-dit of clay loess on granitic primary rock that is ploughed by horse and planted to 80% marsanne and 20% roussanne.