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Tasting notes
The 2021 Saint Joseph is absolutely brilliant and, given the difficulties in the vintage, has no business being this good! Sporting a deep ruby/purple hue as well as brilliant aromatics of ripe darker fruits, some meaty, bloody nuances, graphite, and ground pepper, with a beautiful floral character emerging with time in the glass, it's medium-bodied, has a seamless, elegant mouthfeel, no hard edges, and outstanding length.
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Alistair Cooper MW, jancisrobinson.com
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
Using roughly 10% whole-clusters during fermentation, the 2021 Saint-Joseph offers a red-fruited profile paired with earthy gradations and leafy undertones. Medium-bodied and well balanced by bright acidity, the seamlessly sculpted 2021 comes with absolutely no hard edges and concludes with a clean finish. Chave bottled the 2021 slightly earlier than usual in order to help maintain its freshness.
Cask samples tasted at the domaine. Sample 1: Bachasson Pure granite. Spice, violet and iron filings on the nose. Relatively light palate – perfumed with pepper and good tension. Not the most concentrated but excellent purity. Sample 2: Chaillés Very tight, restrained nose with some perfume coming through. Floral, zippy, taut and vibrant palate. Sample 3: Dardouille Meaty and savoury with perfume and violet beneath. This has power and weight with powdery firm tannins as the backbone. (AC)
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.