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Tasting notes
Not yet bottled, the 2020 Saint Joseph sports a dense purple hue as well as impressive intensity in its darker, almost blue fruits as well as notes of peppery herbs, incense, and spice. With nicely integrated background oak, medium to full body, ripe tannins, and terrific overall balance, it should be a long-lived Saint Joseph, but it warrants short-term cellaring.
Critic scores
Average Score
James Lawther MW, jancisrobinson.com
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
Still in barrel at the time of my visit, I tasted a blended sample of the 2020 Saint Joseph blind, as well as from three separate parcels/barrels at the estate. Framed by ample cedar notes, the blended version came across as a bit stern, but with the wood backed by ripe cherries and blackberries and supple fruit tannins. About one-fourth of the blend comes from Saint-Jean de Muzols, which was silky, red fruited and vibrant (89 - 91). Another fourth comes from Vion, later picked, with more black cherries and black olives, plus hints of licorice and mocha (91 - 93). The largest portion of the blend comes from Sécheras, which showed more structure, being firmer, more tannic and dark fruited (91 - 93).
100% Syrah. Cask sample. Deep colour to the rim. Ripe and raisined on the nose with cassis and curranty notes again on the palate. Punchy tannic frame, the oak just sitting in a little, the finish chewy at present. Needs some time to settle but has the matière to age well. (JL)