2019 St Joseph Rouge

Both Saint Josephs from Chave are brilliant, and the estate 2019 Saint Joseph offers classic blackberry fruits as well as peppery, violet, and smoky bacon fat. It has a ripe, concentrated style yet brings plenty of tannins and has a firm, age-worthy feel.

Bottled in late July 2021, Chave's 2019 Saint Joseph boasts copious floral scents of violets and lavender set against a backdrop of purple raspberries. In the mouth, it's medium to full-bodied, with a wonderfully rich yet silky feel and plenty of airy, refreshing length on the finish. It should drink well on release and for at least a decade after that.

100% Syrah. Barrel samples tasted at the domaine. Sample 1 : Dardouille. Beautiful black-olive and smoke-tinged nose – granitic graphite notes, fantastic depth of fruit and fine silky tannins with a dollop of spice. Sample 2 : Le Clos. Stacks of black pepper, menthol and clove showing on the nose. The palate is densely concentrated but with real energy, freshness and vibrancy. Sample 3 : Chaillés. Beautiful whole-bunch aromas of lapsang souchong, smoke, ash and five spice. Fantastic vibrant freshness and sculpted fine tannins. Sample 4 : Bachasson. A nose packed full of black-olive tapenade and Lagavulin peaty smoke. The palate has a floral tinge with white pepper and tannins that are fine and silky. There's such finesse here! (AC)