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Tasting notes
Black pepper, black olive, plum. It's pretty closed now, with very grainy tannins. Intense and concentrated. A serious wine. (JRL)
Critic scores
Average Score
James Lawther MW, jancisrobinson.com
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
Dense and spicy and very confident. And so much more accessible than the Hermitage! Very long and vibrant. Well done! (JR)
Bottled in August of 2022, the 2020 Saint Joseph is a beauty and is showing nicely. Classic Saint Joseph darker fruits, peppery herbs, damp earth, and spice, as well as a hint of tapenade, all emerge on the nose, and it's medium to full-bodied, has a concentrated mid-palate, and outstanding length. It's impeccably made and will evolve for 10-15 years.
As with the 2020 L'Hermitage, I tasted this wine in its components, shortly before blending and bottling. This vintage is highly successful at Chave, and this wine, which would qualify as the gateway bottling made from estate fruit, looks to be outstanding, with juicy, spice-laced red and blue fruit character of noteworthy freshness, plus strong florality and mineral drive. I was also struck by the fineness of the tannins, which will likely make the final wine deceptively approachable on release. Don't be fooled - this wine has a long and enviable track record for rewarding patience.
About the producer
The Chaves have been growing grapes in the Northern Rhône since 1481. Jean-Louis Chave is the 16th generation to head up the family domaine, having taken over from his father in 1992.