2020 St Joseph Les Grisieres

A selection of older vines and brought up in 20% new oak, the 2020 Saint Joseph Les Grisières offers a similar bouquet of framboise, ripe cherries, dried herbs, and pepper. It's concentrated, medium to full-bodied, has beautiful tannins, and a great finish. I think it's slightly better than the classic release, but not by much, and both are clearly outstanding wines.

Deep magenta. Juicy red and dark berry and floral scents are sharpened by smoky mineral and spice flourishes. Sappy and laser-focused on the palate, offering vibrant black raspberry, cherry and violet pastille flavors that are complicated by salty olive and cracked pepper flourishes. Fleshes out slowly with air while maintaining energy, finishing bright, spicy and extremely long, displaying sharp clarity, discreet tannins and resonating florality, this bottling makes its case for being one of the very best Saint-Josephs of this excellent vintage. Made with 20% whole clusters.

From an old-vine parcel south of Chavanay proper, the 2020 Saint Joseph les Grisieres (tasted from barrel) seems to have held onto more red-fruit character than the regular bottling. It's brighter and fresher yet also full-bodied, intense and wonderfully silky and elegant on the long finish. It should drink well close to release next year and for more than a decade thereafter.