2021 Pierre Gaillard Saint-Joseph Clos de Cuminaille Half Bottle 375ml, Northern Rhone

The 2021 Saint Joseph Clos De Cuminaille has a deep purple hue as well as terrific aromatics of both red and blue fruits, peppery herbs, violets, and new saddle leather. With good density, medium body, fine tannins, and outstanding length, it has lots to love and is well worth seeking out.

91-93 points jebdunnuck.com

Pierre Gaillard Saint-Joseph Clos de Cuminaille is a pure and expressive single-vineyard Syrah from the northern reaches of Saint-Joseph in the Northern Rhône. The Clos de Cuminaille vineyard, first planted by Gaillard in the early 1980s, lies on steep granite slopes near Malleval and has become one of the appellation’s most iconic sites. The combination of old vines, poor granitic soils and a cool, wind-swept climate produces Syrah of striking finesse and aromatic detail.

Pierre Gaillard, known for his precision and sensitivity in both the vineyard and the cellar, crafts this wine with an artisan’s eye. The fruit is hand harvested, with partial whole bunch fermentation to enhance freshness and spice. Wild yeasts are used, and the wine is matured in French oak barrels, roughly one third new, which adds structure without obscuring the vineyard’s mineral expression.

The wine opens with lifted aromas of blackcurrant, violet, cracked pepper, and smoked meat, layered with hints of wild thyme and graphite. On the palate it’s sleek and vibrant, offering a core of dark berry fruit, supple tannins and a savoury, stony finish. There’s a precision and tension here that speaks clearly of its granitic origin and cool-climate character.

Pair it with slow-cooked lamb shoulder, duck breast with blackberry glaze, or chargrilled eggplant with tahini and herbs. Aged sheep’s cheese also works beautifully. Enjoy it young for its energy and perfume or cellar up to 15 years for a more evolved, savoury profile.