2020 E Guigal St Joseph Rouge, Northern Rhone

I always find the Saint-Joseph here to be a step up over the Crozes, and that's no exception in 2020. Cassis, black fruits, graphite, and some obvious minerality define the bouquet of the 2020 Saint Joseph, and it's medium to full-bodied, has ripe tannins, and considerable elegance.

91-93 points jebdunnuck.com

E Guigal St Joseph Rouge from the Northern Rhone is a beautifully crafted Syrah that exemplifies both the generosity and finesse of this storied appellation. The Guigal family, based in Ampuis since 1946, is synonymous with the finest expressions of the Rhone Valley. Their meticulous approach to vineyard sourcing, long maturation and precise blending ensures that even their regional wines deliver extraordinary depth and refinement. This St Joseph is a testament to that philosophy — a wine of structure, perfume and impeccable balance.

The fruit is sourced from steep granite slopes along the west bank of the Rhone River, stretching from Condrieu to Tournon. These vineyards, with their poor, rocky soils and south-facing exposures, yield low-cropping Syrah grapes packed with concentration and mineral intensity. After fermentation, the wine is matured for up to 24 months in a combination of new and seasoned oak barrels, a hallmark of Guigal’s style, which imparts subtle spice and roundness while preserving the purity of fruit.

In the glass it shows deep ruby with purple highlights. The aroma is rich and expressive, offering blackberry, cassis and dark cherry laced with violet, cracked pepper, olive tapenade and smoky oak. The palate is full bodied yet supple, with velvety tannins framing layers of black fruit, spice and mineral. Notes of cured meat, cocoa and dried herbs emerge as the wine opens, leading to a long, savoury finish with excellent freshness and poise.

It pairs beautifully with roasted lamb, venison, duck, or grilled steak, and is equally at home with mushroom dishes or aged hard cheeses. Delicious young for its ripe fruit and texture, it will continue to evolve gracefully for ten to fifteen years, gaining complexity and savoury depth.