2019 St Joseph Ste Epine
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Tasting notes
Inky ruby. Dark berries, potpourri, exotic spices and a strong suggestion of smoky minerals on the expansive nose. Juicy, penetrating and finely detailed, offering densely packed, intense blackberry, cherry compote and violet flavors that are underscored by a vein of juicy acidity. Steadily building tannins add grip to an impressively long, mineral-driven finish that strongly repeats the floral and spice notes.
Critic scores
Average Score
Alistair Cooper MW, jancisrobinson.com
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
Coming from a cooler, windy terroir located just to the north of Tournon, in the southern portion of the appellation, the 2019 Saint Joseph Sainte-Epine sports a dense purple hue to go with a beautiful bouquet of cassis and darker berries as well as peppery herbs, leather, graphite, and violets. Terrific on the balance as well, it's medium to full-bodied, has a great mid-palate, ripe tannins, and integrated acidity. It's another beautiful 2019 from this estate that does everything right. It needs a decant if drinking any time soon (I followed this bottle for multiple days) and will have two decades of longevity if you're so inclined.
An impressive showing, the 2019 Saint Joseph Sainte-Epine features aromas and flavors of blueberries and black cherries, plus hints of violets, peppery spice and black olives. It's full-bodied, but it carries its labeled 15% alcohol well, with no sign at all of alcoholic warmth, while supple tannins give a welcome sense of gentle structure and add a softly dusty feel to the long finish. Tasted twice, with consistent notes.
100% Syrah. Aged for 14–16 months in 50% new and 50% second-use barrels. Barrel sample. Tasted blind. A touch of iron and graphite on the nose. A succulent and juicy palate which marries minerality and dense vivid forest fruits. Sweet and appealing with good depth of chewy-textured fruit. (AC)