2020 St Joseph Domaine de la Croix des Vignes

The 2020 Saint Joseph La Croix Des Vignes showed beautifully. Coming from vines located between Tournon and Mauves and a mix of younger and older vines, it has a distinct granite character in its darker fruits, chocolate, burning embers, and tapenade-like aromatics. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, this balanced, elegant Saint Joseph will benefit from just a handful of years in the cellar and drink nicely for a decade.

Dark violet color. Highly fragrant, spice-tinged red and dark berry aromas, along with suggestions of smoky minerals, potpourri and licorice. Juicy and lithe on the palate, offering bitter cherry and black raspberry flavors that deepen steadily through the midpalate. Shows fine definition and spicy cut on a long, smooth finish that features well-knit tannins and a lingering suggestion of black pepper. Made from two sites on the granite soils of Tournon (two hectares) and Mauves (half a hectare) and raised in 20% new oak.

Stunning nose of wild flowers and wild herbs with touches of graphite and licorice. This isn’t quite as austere as some examples of this appellation, but you need to like tannins and stony minerality to appreciate this sleek and highly structured Northern Rhone syrah. So much mineral freshness at the long, expressive finish. Limited production. From biodynamically grown grapes.